Water-district director: copper treatment moved lake recovery forward; Crescent Gardens project raises water-quality concerns

Canyon Lake — Darcy Burke, director of the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, told the City Council that a recent copper treatment has started the process of restoring lake water quality but cautioned the community to expect possible ‘flare ups’ as weather changes and urged residents to reduce nutrient runoff.

“Remember this is like shingles,” Burke said. “This was not a 1 and done. This is not the miracle cure. This is the first step, I think, in a long term plan of getting her better and getting her back to where she needs to be.” Burke also urged simple resident actions — pick up pet waste and avoid overwatering yards — to reduce nutrients entering the lake.

Burke highlighted that EVMWD’s board recently approved a $100,000 contribution and said that the district and the city must keep pressure on a proposed development outside Northgate known as Crescent Gardens. “This is about water quality. This is about public health,” she said, noting opponents have gathered over 3,600 signatures and that the developer’s earlier presentations differed from what she heard at municipal advisory council meetings.

Councilmembers thanked Burke for relationship-building with surrounding jurisdictions and for the district’s financial participation; one member asked about the prior litigation between the POA and EVMWD, and Burke confirmed legal disputes dated to about 2018–2019 but said the relationship has improved. No formal action was taken; council and staff encouraged continued monitoring and public outreach.

What happens next: EVMWD and city staff will continue technical monitoring, outreach, and interagency coordination; the Crescent Gardens proposal will continue to be reviewed in public forums.