Wikimedia Commons · Isabell Schulz · CC BY 2.0Lake Merced's archive record is dominated by water and environmental studies. A 1999 watershed sanitary survey maps potential pollution sources; a 1998 baseline inventory catalogs the lake's soils, vegetation, wildlife and fisheries; a 1993 water-resource planning study and a 1990s groundwater master plan track its surface elevation and water levels; and a 1998 memorandum weighs alternatives to raise the lake, costed at $2,200,000, $8,200,000 and $3,900,000, alongside a 2001 Vista Grande diversion study. A 1973 waste-water master plan sites a large treatment plant at Lake Merced, and a 1965 annual report logs fishing-permit revenue and float repairs. Operated by the Recreation and Park Department, whose FY2025 budget line totals about $250M.
City Facilities registry · 4 buildings on site · parcel 7283004 · Supervisor District 7
Funded under the Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks; Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response; Health and Recovery bonds. The dollar figures for these are reported at the program level, not per project.
Bond-funded projects here:
- Lake Merced
- RP 2012 Lake Merced Trail & RR
- RP COF Lake Merced N Lake Dock
- Lake Merced Pistol Range Replacement
Construction permits on this parcel
- Priority process - new building construction recreation center2023 · complete$700,000
- Remove 2-10k&2-500 gallon underground fuel storage tanks.install & test 2-15k gallon underground fuel storage tanks with…2012 · issued$600,000
- Parking lot and pathway renovations to enhance ada compliance at at harding park golf clubhouse and parking lot. ada barrier…2024 · complete$591,000
- Work is in rear yard. fill in a horizontal void in yard with new elevated concrete slab, replace target equipment with new…2016 · issued$507,752
- Replace (e), deteriorating dock with (n) accessible dock. install (n) accessible parking stall & path leading to (n) dock.…2020 · complete$500,000
- Site & utility for future (n) modular building. construct (n) concrete foundation, provide water & electrical service to (n)…2017 · issued$400,000
Paid for work here
- Treaty ConstructionFY2025$2.1M
- Cazadoro Construction IncFY2024$583,807
- Western Water Constructors IncFY2020$203,523
- Lake Merced Golf ClubFY2018$198,955
Figures come from different city ledgers (voter bonds, contracts, permits) and are not additive — a bond fund pays the contracts for the same job. Sources: SF GO Bond program, vendor vouchers, building permits (DataSF).
Operated by the Recreation & Parks — department budget $250.4M, 2,161 staff citywide (FY2025), not this place’s own.
The 9 documents behind the summary above, held at the Internet Archive — Democracy’s Library plus IA’s San Francisco Public Library partnership scans. Every link opens the scanned page with the match highlighted.
- San Francisco master plan for waste water management · 1973 ↗
A 1973 waste-water master plan sites the city's single large treatment plant at the Lake Merced area (south of the zoo), sized to treat one billion gallons per day in wet weather.
San Francisco (Calif.). Dept. of Public WorksInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans - San Francisco groundwater master plan : draft / prepared by San Francisco Water Department ↗
A groundwater master plan tracks changes in Lake Merced's surface elevation and calls for field investigation and modeling to help restore the lake's water levels.
San Francisco Water DepartmentInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans
- Annual report · 1965 ↗
A 1965 Recreation and Park annual report logs Lake Merced's aquatic attendance (122,658) and fishing-permit revenue ($6,302) and repairs to floats at the lake.
San Francisco (Calif.). Recreation and Park DeptInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans
- Lake Merced watershed sanitary survey · 1999 ↗
A 1999 watershed sanitary survey identifies potential pollution sources around Lake Merced to protect its water-supply, recreation and wildlife uses.
Camp, Dresser & McKee,San Francisco Public Utilities CommissionInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans - Lake Merced 1998 baseline natural resources inventory · 1998 ↗
A 1998 baseline natural-resources inventory maps Lake Merced's soils, vegetation, wildlife and fisheries.
prepared by: Trihey & Associates, Inc., through: Camp Dresser & McKee,prepared for: San Francisco Public Utilities CommissionInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans - Lake Merced water resource planning study ↗
A 1993 water-resource planning study evaluates lake-use and water-quality issues and the hydrology of Lake Merced for the Water Department.
San Francisco Water Department,prepared by GEO/Resource Consultants, Inc. in association with Montgomery/Watson, Jones and Stokes Associates, Inc., Public Affairs ManagementInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans
See all 9 documents →
- Feasibility evaluation of alternatives to raise Lake Merced : draft ↗
A 1998 technical memorandum evaluates alternatives to raise and maintain Lake Merced's level, costing options at $2,200,000, $8,200,000 and $3,900,000.
CH2M HILLInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans - Vista Grande diversion feasibility evaluation / prepared for City and County of San Francisco, City of Daly City, County of San Mateo ; prepared by CH2M Hill and the Duffey Company ↗
A 2001 feasibility evaluation studies diverting Vista Grande storm water into Lake Merced and its water-quality effects.
CH2M HILL (Firm)Internet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans - Capital plan ... annual update ↗
A Recreation and Park capital plan carries a Lake Merced master plan and overlook-and-trail project and situates the Harding Park clubhouse within Lake Merced Park.
San Francisco (Calif.). Recreation and Park Dept. Capital Improvement DivisionInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans
City budget & payments: SF Controller open data (budget, vouchers, contracts) · Historical documents: Internet Archive — SFPL partnership scans + Democracy's Library
