Illegal Dumping Comes Back to Bite Us
Half of Point Isabel To Close For Lead Proofing In 2022
The edge of this cove on North Point Isabel was once piled high with industrial batteries that leached lead and zinc into the surrounding area. In the mid-1980s, contaminated debris was removed and North Point Isabel was sealed with a clay cap. In 2002, it became part of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park (MESP), which is managed by the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) as an extension of the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline. Later this year, EBRPD will close North Point Isabel for several months to repair the clay cap. Until then, both sides of the park are open and considered safe for recreation. Point Isabel Regional Shoreline will remain open while North Point Isabel is closed.
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) plans to close North Point Isabel for several months in 2022 to address spots that have tested positive for lead. On January 3, work began under the bridge across Hoffman Channel to strengthen it for the heavy vehicle traffic necessary for the project. The bridge may close briefly at times. Park visitors will be directed briefly onto the Bay Trail portion of the bridge and back whenever the Point Isabel footbridge is closed. Dogs must be on-leash on the Bay Trail. Please keep dogs and children away from construction equipment for their safety.
Why is this needed? Decades ago, long before North Point Isabel became part of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, unknown parties dumped industrial batteries there. In the mid-1980s, tons of toxic dirt and debris were removed and the landfill was covered with a liner and clay cap to seal in remaining toxins. Several hotspots on the aging clay cap now need attention to keep park users safe. Improvements to North Point Isabel are also in the offing for 2023.
Areas on North Point Isabel where traces of lead have been detected, or that are prone to erosion, have been fenced off for years. The chain-link fence along Hoffman Channel is in place to prevent erosion of that bank and possible exposure of contaminants. Similarly, the burlap tubes of straw around drains and the perimeter of the park are there to prevent toxins from washing into San Francisco Bay when it rains.
Patching the clay cap is expected to take six months or more. The second phase of the project, which is not scheduled before 2023, will include park improvements. Dirt may be brought in to raise and contour the landfill, and benches and perhaps landscaping will be added. North Point Isabel will be closed during both phases of the project but will open for recreation between them.
In the meantime, North Point Isabel is still considered safe for recreation. However, never let your dog dig on either side of the park; the clay caps are there to cover things that should stay covered. Dogs and people have also been injured by stumbling into holes.
Once the project is complete, a repaved perimeter trail will improve access for park visitors. Cycling will still be prohibited within the park itself, but bicyclists may continue to loop around Point Isabel using the Bay Trail extension that passes behind Sit & Stay Café and Mudpuppy’s dog wash.
For updates, please join the Point Isabel Dog Owners (PIDO) or visit the East Bay Regional Park District website. PIDO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has worked since 1985 to keep Point Isabel clean, safe, and off-leash. Your low-cost, one-time membership fee helps PIDO continue its 37 years of dogged advocacy for off-leash recreation.