Laguna lakes stand as sad symbols of persistent drought

The state’s lingering drought has rendered a landmark lake tucked behind the hills along Laguna Canyon Road two puddles amid acres of cracked earth.

A subtle stink wafted through the air earlier this week above the nearly dry Barbara’s Lake. The only naturally occurring year-round lake in Orange County now stands as a symbol of a thirsty state in need of rain.

Gone are the western toads and migratory birds such as egrets, herons and pelicans that once flocked to the oasis, first seen on a 1841 land grant map of Rancho Santa Ana.

The lake is one of three in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park: Bubbles Lake is also dry, and Lake 1 dries up most years. They are about a 15-minute walk from the Nix Nature Center.

The lake named after environmental pioneer Barbara Stuart has, at its fullest, spanned 12 acres and been 5 feet deep in places, said OC Parks Supervising Ranger Barbara Norton, who has worked for the agency since 1999 and lived in Laguna Beach since 1979.

Norton said she has not seen water levels this low before but added that a drought in the 1930s and ‘40s reportedly caused the lake to run dry.

The lake receives its water from several sources, including groundwater and runoff from surrounding hillsides, Norton said.

There are no plans to bring in treated water to fill the lake because that would disrupt the natural ecosystem, Park Ranger Adam Martinez said.

“We want to keep it natural and let it fill up on its own,” he said.

Talk of a possible El Niño — a weather pattern that sometimes brings above-average rainfall to the region — this winter has park officials hoping the lake will return to previous levels. Barbara’s Lake has bounced back before. After the 1940s drought, the lake turned into a fishing haven, with anglers trolling for bass. Livestock grazed around the shore.

Once separate bodies of water, Barbara’s and Bubbles lakes were reconnected when Laguna Canyon Road was moved west and widened in 2006.

Bubbles was named after the hippopotamus who turned to the natural watering hole in her bid for freedom from the Lion Country Safari animal park nearly 40 years ago. In 1978, Bubbles made her way to the lake and eluded capture by staying underwater by day and emerging only at night.

During her 19-day holiday, Bubbles became a draw for crowds and television cameras. But Bubbles was ultimately shot with tranquilizers and died before she could be returned to the animal park, according to a 2001 Los Angeles Times story.

It has been a while since the lakes have drawn much wildlife. Norton said she has seen fewer deer around Barbara Lake lately but hesitated to attribute the reduced numbers to the dry climate.

“Scientifically I can’t say the drought is causing that,” she said. “Less water means less food [for some animals]. We’re starting to see wild animals going into neighborhoods.”

She said streams and ponds at nearby golf courses such as Strawberry Farms and Shady Canyon are probably providing water for animals that would usually drink at Barbara’s Lake.