Chabot Creek Contamination?

Castro Valley residents who live along Chabot Creek in the Baywood District noticed today that the creek is cloudy. Your Boulevardier can confirm this at the spot where the creek emerges on the south side of Highway 580 near the Strobridge Avenue pedestrian overpass. (On the north side of the freeway the creek is in a concrete ditch and water clarity is more difficult to discern.)

Authorities fromthe East Bay Municipal Utility District and the Alameda County Public Works Agency have been contacted. When or if a source or cause is determined, Your Boulevardier will report it here.

Digging Castro Valley

Two holes in the ground were noted on today's walk.

Behind JD's, the parking lot is full of earth and a deep trench can be seen next to the Chabot Cinema. Your Boulevardier suspects that the retaining wall is being rebuilt to a higher standard, but can anyone confirm? The parking lot is closed and so parking at JD's is even tougher than usual.

By the Post Office, work continues on the sewer replacement behind Castro Village. Where the new line attaches to the main, in the middle of Santa Maria Street, workers have been digging and working for a week or so, with flag persons attempting to keep traffic flowing. The crew is fortunate that school is not in session at Castro Valley High.

Your Boulevardier noted both of these earthmoving escapades while pursuing his pastime, walking in Castro Valley. He notes (though his evidence is anecdotal) that more people are joining him on foot in the City of Lite, and suspects that the move is related to gasoline prices. Castro Valley is a surprisingly walkable town for many of us who live in or near downtown -- all manner of services, from a top-notch hardware store to a handful of fine coffee shops to a yoga studio to a few ice cream parlors all await within a few-block area.

Lake Chabot Boat Fees

An article in today's Daily Review reports that Lake Chabot will start charging fees for zebra mussel inspection on personal boats launched in the lake. The fees will also be charged at Del Valle and Contra Loma. Per the article:

The fees at all 3 recreation areas will be $6 for boats brought in on trailers and $3 for boats fastened to car tops. A vehicle bringing in two kayaks will be charged $3.

The inspection program has been in effect for a while at Lake Chabot. Your Boulevardier's limited experience has been that the inspectors are hard to find, and one can wait quite a while at the launch dock waiting for them to arrive. It's hoped that the fee will be coupled with more efficient procedures.