The Committee to Save Silver Lake Reservoirs has a new name. We are now the Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy. Our 20 year history of accomplishments has revolved around a primary focus: the need to save our two beautiful reservoirs from being permanently covered or having unsightly storage tanks or a filtration plant built on the reservoir property. As unlikely as that seems now, from 1988 until 2003 or 2004 these were real possibilities presented by the LADWP to deal with environmental, legislated, or water quality mandates. Losing our cherished neighborhood namesake to these prospects was unacceptable to our community; and CSSLR joined with other reservoir communities throughout Los Angeles to prevent the covering of our neighborhood treasures.

Through CSSLR’s focus to save this local land mark, the Silver Lake Master Plan was developed.  The Master Plan, developed over the course of three years with input from more than 600 community members, has been a blueprint for the work of CSSLR.  The pedestrian paths around most of the reservoir property were first conceived in the Master Plan as well as the much-anticipated public park on the once off-limits meadow just east of Silver Lake Reservoir.

Now our focus has changed. While we must always be vigilant, the reservoirs don’t need “saving.” Once they are taken out of service (removed from the drinking water system), the open space on the reservoir property will need to be protected,maintained, and enhanced for future generations to enjoy.  Thus, our change in focus in forms our name change.As the Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy – SLRC, we look forward to the accomplishments our next 20 years will bring.

SLRC’s Path Pals held its Summer Weeding Party of Sunday morning, June 7 from 9am to 11am. Community members joined SLRC in weeding the pedestrian path along Armstrong Avenue and Silver Lake Blvd. Path Pals is a service of SLRC aimed at preserving and enhancing the appearance, safety, and usability of the pedestrian paths around the Silver Lake reservoirs.

Sign up or get more information on being a Path Pal.

The CSSLR Yahoo group that has served as a community forum for issues related to the reservoirs and beyond will soon transition from a Yahoo group to a blog. The Yahoo group will become a blog this summer. As a blog the forum will be used by CSSLR to post news and notices related to the reservoirs as well as the activities of CSSLR. CSSLR welcomes all comments and feedback from the community. However, these comments will no longer be posted automatically to the new blog. Feel free to contact us or send email to info@csslr.org.

Since late last year, CSSLR has been reviewing and revising its mission. Our newly revised mission statement is now ready for prime time.

“CSSLR is an all volunteer, non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving and enhancing the historical, aesthetic, ecological and recreational benefits of Silver Lake’s open waters and surrounding open space. CSSLR works to reflect community preferences regarding the property and advocates accordingly. While the reservoirs are part of the city water supply system, CSSLR will provide education about water quality, projects, and their impacts on the community. CSSLR’s vision is to facilitate the transition of decommissioned reservoir property and to explore new opportunities regarding open space, education, recreation, watershed, wildlife, native plants, natural habitats and land use once the reservoirs go off-line.”