Things are hotting up at the lake – quite literally – with the easing of lockdown and some spectacular weather…
Stepping up to the mark
With crowds literally flooding the lake over half-term week, not only have the bins been overflowing, but the amount of rubbish left around the lake has been shameful. Thanks to volunteers like Gill (pictured above) and many others, including a growing number of new helpers and hands-on locals, the lake has been looking spick and span every morning before 9am! What a great job Marlens’ volunteers do. THANK YOU.
Don’t overstep the mark – Stay 2m apart.
The lake has remained open as a place for individual exercise during lockdown – conditional on social distancing. It has been extraordinarily busy over half-term and social distancing is not being observed. Towards the end of the week, volunteers sprayed 123 yellow lines, 2m apart on the lower promenade to help people manage their space. With spray can supplies replenished, more will appear this week!
Water quality testing
The first sample taken on Thursday 28th May recorded a result of POOR water quality in the lake. The water quality in Clevedon Marine Lake will be sampled before and after each series of overtopping tides (approximately those over 12.5m), during the warm summer months when the lake is heavily used. The testing schedule is below.
4th – 8th June
21st – 24th July
18th – 23rd August
16th – 22nd September
There are marginal overtops 5th – 6th July and 4th – 5th August. These will only be tested if there is an indication of water quality problems.
Two red flags have been put up, one at either end of the lake, adjacent to the information boards with an explanatory notice. A red flag means the water quality in Clevedon Marine Lake is currently POOR. The latest test results and alerts are shared on social media, via our BLOG and lakeside to explain the situation and actions being taken. Information is shared to allow lake users to make an informed decision about entering the water.
If the water quality in the lake is tested as POOR, it is recommended that the public do not swim in the lake until the water has refreshed, especially if unwell or with low immunity. Anyone choosing to swim is advised to wear ear plugs and goggles to protect against infection. All visitors having contact with the lake water are advised to wash or cleanse hands before eating.
Repairs
Following the 14m high tides around April’s Full Moon on 8th, there was a rockslide along the entry ramp leading to the pump house. Contractors were on site w/c 18/5/20 making good the area, with a rather splendid retaining wall!
Getting the message across
If you are in or around the lake over the coming weeks, we are asking everyone to help spread these messages:
Help us Help the Lake. Marlens’ charity and a team of volunteers, run the lake, not North Somerset Council.
It costs £20,000 p.a. to keep Clevedon Marine Lake open to the public.
The lake is a semi-natural environment like a beach or river. Users enter at their own risk. Be safety aware.
Cold water – Know your limits.
Shallow perimeter – No diving or jumping in.
Uneven lakebed – Look at the lake map to understand where it is deep and shallow.
Underwater hazards like rocks – Risk of cuts and grazes, minimise contact with lakebed.
Overtopping tides – Check tide times & heights before each visit; don’t enter the lake when it’s overtopping.
Respect the lake and its inhabitants. Bag and bin any litter – or even better, take it home. Leave crabs as happy as you found them – and no bait scraps or fish hooks.
Friends of Clevedon Marine Lake
If you’re a Friend of Clevedon Marine Lake, why not become a friend for life? We kindly ask Friends to consider setting up a standing order for £50 a year to become a perennial Friend, to continue supporting the lake, at less than £1 a week. This can be done via on-line banking ‘Payments & Transfers’, set up as an annual transaction using the following details * Account name: MARLENS * Sort code: 20-94-74 * Account number: 13465160 * Reference: Perennial Friend.
Sign up to Marlens’ Lottery
Alternatively, if you fancy a punt on Clevedon Marine Lake, with better odds of winning than the National Lottery, you can now sign up to Marlens’ Lottery on-line. Marlens’ Lottery was launched in August 2015 to create a steady income to help run Clevedon Marine Lake throughout the year, following its renovation.
Lost and Found
Lost property is regularly picked up by MARLENS’ volunteers from around the lake and stored in the boathouse. For items left behind, contact 07867 336480.
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