Drought may claim Webb Park lake, greenery

Webb Park’s lake and sprawling green grass could become another casualty to the four-year drought.

The Bernardo Town Center Property Owners Association, which owns the private park often used for Rancho Bernardo events like Spirit of the Fourth and the RB Alive! Expo, is considering drought-tolerant landscaping renovations, according to Ron Bamberger, BTCPOA president.

“Nothing is off the table,” Bamberger said when asked if potential new landscaping could include removing the man-made lake.

The park, built in the 1970s behind downtown Rancho Bernardo businesses that line the west side of Bernardo Center Drive, roughly covers 4 1/3 acres, which includes the 30,000 square foot surface area lake. Bamberger declined to provide additional details on how many gallons of water fill the lake and its filling frequency. He said the lake is filled with potable water from the city system, but after gaining nutrients from the lake’s plant matter, fish and other inhabitants, the lake water is recirculated to irrigate the park’s grass and other vegetation.

“There is a lot of organic matter, which is good nutrition for plant material, rather than using (potable) city water (for landscape irrigation),” Bamberger said.

He said the association’s board of directors is exploring its options since keeping the park as it is during a drought is “potentially impractical.”

“We are evaluating alternatives, but have made no firm decisions,” Bamberger said. He added that the board is looking into rebate availability if some of the turf is converted to drought-tolerant landscaping.

He said when the board makes a decision — no time line is available — the decision would be publicly announced.

For now, he said the park is “following the law” in terms of irrigation restrictions, the grass is starting to show a little impact and “I anticipate more as the weather heats up.”