Rep. Panetta, Mayor Mahan, and Councilmember Candelas Tout Federal Investment for Lake Cunningham Restoration

Since the mid-1990s, the water quality at Lake Cunningham has significantly declined, which has compromised access to the lake, threatened the environment, and jeopardized the safety of park meadows and amenities during algal blooms or natural flooding on this historical floodplain. For more than 30 years the lake has been off-limits for recreational use. Park visitors often report stagnant water and a foul odor in the summer.

This federal investment will improve Lake Cunningham's water quality by converting turf where non-native geese congregate to native landscapes, installing interceptive bioswales, installing bench wetlands, and installing flow-through wetlands. The improvements will focus on reducing future nutrient loads, intercepting, and filtering runoff before entering the lake, and utilizing ecological systems to filter and circulate lake water, all to restore the water in Lake Cunningham for recreational use.

"A clean Lake Cunningham can play a crucial role in the lives of those who take advantage of this premier park in San Jose," said Rep. Panetta. "I'm proud to ensure that the federal government is playing its part by investing in the revitalization of Lake Cunningham. The enhancement of this lake and the improvement of our environment will allow the people of South San Jose to be better connected to nature and each other and provide them with better opportunities to become better stewards of our community."

"Congressman Panetta has proven once again that he understands and cares about the community he represents here in San Jose," said Mayor Mahan. "With $850,000 from the Federal Government, we will begin to clean up the water at Lake Cunningham and experiment to see what works - with the end goal of creating a recreation space that will better serve our families here on the East Side and across our city."

"I am thrilled to see an infusion of federal funding that will go directly towards improving the water quality at Lake Cunningham," said Councilmember Candelas. "I want to thank Congressman Jimmy Panetta for his commitment to the ongoing restoration of this park. This funding will help improve the quality of life for families in East San Jose."

Last Congress, after more than a decade, Congress brought back a process to allow Representatives-who know their districts best-to request and secure funds for the programs and places that matter most to communities. Members of Congress are allowed to request funding for up to 15 projects in their community. The projects Rep. Panetta fought for address clear and present needs in California's 19th Congressional District and represent his commitment to strengthening federal partnerships with community leaders. In the last government funding bill, Rep. Panetta secured more than $15.18 millionin community project funding for local projects throughout California's 19th Congressional District, $3.15 millionin community project funding for local projects in San Jose and broader Santa Clara County, and $850,000 for the Lake Cunningham Park Revitalization project.

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