It's not a joke -- the famous lotus of Echo Park Lake won't be attending the Lotus Festival this year. To date there is no consensus on what's killing them. Though there has been some study. One group of motivated high school students took it upon themselves to study the matter.

Meanwhile, the lake is going to be partly or completely drained (we HOPE not completely) as part of a "Rehabilitation Project." The rehab will be welcome if it is conducted sensitively and properly.

A meeting concerning the lotus and wildlife at the lake -- and other concerns -- is scheduled for Monday June 9. But Chicken Corner has heard that the meeting was not widely publicized.

So... if you don't already know:

The Bureau of Engineering [announces] the first public meeting about the Echo Park Rehabilitation Project. The day is Monday, June 9, 2008, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Logan Street School.

Logan Street School is at the corner of Logan and Montana. It has a mural that Jerry Garcia was personally involved in painting.