Lake Elsinore Gets $8 Million In Federal Funding To Help Keep Lake Water Clean

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Technology currently used at Lake Elsinore to ensure cleaner lake water will continue to be deployed, thanks to a significant funding boost from the federal government.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump approved $8 million in funding for the Lake Elsinore Water Quality Project. The federal dollars are part of a package of appropriation bills that included more than $67 million for Riverside County projects. (Related: New Control Tower For French Valley Airport Gets Big Funding Boost)

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-41) secured the funding for the county projects through the Community Project Funding process. The program provides investment in a wide variety of projects such as housing, homelessness prevention, workforce training, public facilities, parks, resilience planning and other critical infrastructure and services.

The funding designated for Lake Elsinore will be used to augment the city's investment in Nanobubbler systems already deployed across the lake.

"On behalf of the City of Lake Elsinore, my colleagues and I would like to thank Congressman Ken Calvert and his office for securing this critical funding for the Lake Elsinore Water Quality Project," said Lake Elsinore Mayor Robert E. Magee. "This funding will help augment the council's substantial financial commitment to the Nanobubbler systems we have deployed across the lake. A cleaner, healthier lake strengthens Lake Elsinore, our tourism, supports local businesses, and drives Lake Elsinore’s economic viability while enhancing the quality of life for our residents. This investment is not just about water quality — it’s about the future of Lake Elsinore and ensuring our city continues to grow, thrive, and remain a destination we are proud to call home."

Lake Elsinore is the largest natural freshwater lake in Southern California, but it has suffered through the years. With 3,300 acres of surface water and a maximum depth of 40 feet, Lake Elsinore is a terminal lake located at the end of the San Jacinto watershed. With no outflow for the nutrient-rich water, algae blooms have flourished.

Over the years, high levels of toxins from algae have made it unsafe for people and pets to go into the water, resulting in numerous lake closures and caution advisories.

In late 2023, it was announced that Hawthorne-based Moleaer launched a $2 million-plus project with the city of Lake Elsinore to help restore water quality using nanobubbles. The bubbles are 2,500 times smaller than a grain of salt, non-buoyant, and possess a charged surface. In an algae-filled body of water, nanobubbles help disrupt compacted sediment layers and break down organic contaminants continuously without using harsh chemicals, according to Moleaer.

"Nanobubble technology is unlike any other surface water treatment previously used in Lake Elsinore because it addresses the root cause of the lake’s problems," Nick Dyner, CEO of Moleaer, said at the time.

Moleaer initially installed two custom-built nanobubble generators on a floating barge in the lake. The generators were designed to treat 2,400 gallons of water per minute.

After officials observed improvements in water quality following the initial barge launch, the Lake Elsinore City Council approved the purchase of two more barges in 2024.