Fern Ridge Reservoir, the lake that laps up next to Zumwalt Park is our favorite neighbor after a hot day in the Fair or for an exquisite evening swim. To this author’s knowledge, there have never been any serious water related incidents at ZCG. However, the lake is not without potential hazards that should be kept in mind.
glass
Several years ago, the Army Corps of Engineers needed to drain the lake to work on the dam leaving the dry and exposed lakebed during Fair. While change of landscape was amazing and surreal (ask any long-time Zummie to tell you the story) it did reveal that there was broken glass in the lakebed near the beach. That dry year, many people removed much of the glass, and people continue today. While this author has not heard of a cut in many years, it’s a good idea to have footwear on if wading in the lake, though most people do not. If you see glass or any garbage in or around the park, please share in the stewardship of our home away from home and get it to a garbage container.
boats
Fern Ridge Reservoir is a popular location for sailing, fishing, and water skiing. Also, skinny dipping hippies only happen one time of year on the lake, and like in the Fair, some people take advantage. Regardless of the reason, motorized boats come close to shore near Zumwalt Park and a person swimming can easily be overlooked. If you are in the water swimming, be watchful of boat traffic and stay close to shore when vessels are about.
algae blooms
There are properties upstream from Fern Ridge Reservoir that have agricultural operations that can send excess nutrient into the lake. From time to time in the spring and summer, algae blooms (cyanobacteria) do form in the lake and appear as a green scum floating (sometime foam as well) on the surface. Exposure to cyanobacteria can be serious and result in a range of symptoms including skin rash, diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, numbness, dizziness and fainting. Children, people with weakened immune systems and pets are most vulnerable to illness (more info here).
The water at Zumwalt Park is always cloudy with silt stirred up by waves at the muddy shore. Swimming at Fair time has never been called off due to algae blooms.
The water at Zumwalt Park is always cloudy with silt stirred up by waves at the muddy shore. Swimming at Fair time has never been called off due to algae blooms.