The Geology of Lake Merritt, Oakland’s Shimmering Tidal Heart
Our lake is a world-class oddity, an arm of the Bay in the midst of a city. It rises and falls with the daily tides. An inside-out island, a marine...
Tag: Lake Merritt
After the Algal Bloom Cleared Out of Lake Merritt, the Nudibranchs Came to Party in Droves
Oodles of nudibranchs showed up in Lake Merritt after the harmful algal bloom of August 2022. These sea slugs appeared in record breaking numbers, taking Oakland's beloved tidal lagoon by...
Naturalist’s Notebook: They Lowered the Level of San Mateo’s Marina Lagoon and Found … These Things
Australian tube worms are now widespread in brackish waters of the San Francisco Bay.
This Animal Has Never Been Seen Away From Lake Merritt — But It’s Not From Oakland
A small land crustacean has lived on the beach at Adams Point for a century. It's never been seen elsewhere in the world. It's definitely not an Oakland native. Now...
Ask the Naturalist: Why Are Sea Hares Multiplying In Lake Merritt?
Nearly 100 giant sea slugs have been spotted in Oakland's Lake Merritt -- and they're breeding! But why? We asked Cal Academy's Terry Gosliner about this sudden influx.
Uncovering Nature’s Treasures with David Wimpfheimer
From whale-watching expeditions to wildflower forays to the annual Christmas Bird Count, naturalist David Wimpfheimer takes great pleasure in leading people on what he likes to call natural "treasure hunts."
Lake Merritt Improvements
On the first rain-soaked day of the season, I walked around Oakland’s Lake Merritt to try to envision its coming makeover. After four years of planning, construction is scheduled to...
A Natural History of Oakland’s Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt changed dramatically over the centuries, but it still supports estuarine habitat -- in addition to the recreation needs of a growing city.
