CLEAR WATER AHEAD LAKE TO BE DRAINED; REPAIRS PLANNED.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Staff Writer

VALENCIA - The shallow lake that meanders through the Lakeshore Condominiums in Valencia is a wildlife refuge of sorts - and a health hazard.

Under an order from the Los Angeles County Health Services Department, the Lakeshore Homeowners Association management is draining an estimated 1.3 million gallons of murky water from the man-made lake, sparking both relief and complaints from residents of the 264-unit complex.

``The lake is starting to smell,'' said Fran Bennett, the association's assistant manager, noting the water hadn't been drained for 12 years. ``Whenever you have this many ducks, you have a problem.''

The lake bed will be cleaned, cracks fixed and the water replaced with an improved cleaning system. The hundreds of ducks that make the 30-year- old lake their home are to blame for much of the debris - feathers and waste - that will be removed from the lake bottom.

Responding April 13 to a complaint, a health inspector found the lake filled with algae, said John Porter, chief environmental health specialist for the department's Antelope Valley/Santa Clarita district.

``The water was a dark green and there was a strong odor,'' Porter said.

A notice was issued to the homeowners association to clean the lake, with a followup check scheduled for next Wednesday, he said.

The concern was that the lake was a potential mosquito breeding ground.

Still some residents love the wildlife and worry that poor timing could kill the newly born ducklings seen waddling behind plump gray-feathered mothers.

``They should have done it a long time ago, not in the spring when there are so many baby birds that can't fly yet,'' said one long-time resident, who asked not to be named. ``Now they do it, when the wildlife is there. It just breaks my heart.''

Indeed Lakeshore holds a surprising array of creatures rarely found across the arid Santa Clarita Valley. And the ducks and other aquatic residents will be displaced for a few days.

Rick Moat, whose Garden Concepts is coordinating the maintenance, said he checked and couldn't find any small ducks or geese around the lake that cannot fly. Even so, if he comes across any they will be relocated to the nearby lake at the Vista Valencia Golf Course.

Also, Moat will transfer the fish and two large turtles from the lake via tanks to six above-ground pools at his Canyon Country company, he said.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) The man-made lake at the Lakeshore condos in Valencia must be drained soon so the lake bed can be repaired.

(2 -- color) Ducks and other lake wildlife will be homeless for a few days.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News