Q: The condition of the dog park at San Lauren Park has been a problem for many months. Irrigation water from over-watering sits stagnant in a massive "pond" along the south side of the fenced-in area, while there are patches of bone dry bare dirt in other areas due to poor sprinkler maintenance. It's so bad they won't even mow the soggy area, and grass is left to grow wild.

Tree roots are sitting in waterlogged soil and some have already died as a result. An irrigation control valve is also leaking, resulting in a muddy mess near a bench at the entrance to the park. This has made the park unusable for many of us with dogs that like to play in water for fear of stinky, muddy dogs and intestinal diseases.

Are there any plans for North of the River Parks and Recreation District to address the condition of the park?

- Eric Kelley

A: Roger Perez, NOR marketing director, answered:

NOR has had challenges with water at San Lauren Park, specifically the area along Krebs Road under the power lines, including the dog park.

This area is a water run-off and retention basin for street water from the surrounding neighborhood. Because the portion of the park under the power lines had been kept free of vegetation for many years, the soil is very compacted and it is difficult for the water to seep into the ground. This condition will improve as roots from the grass and trees there begin to loosen the soil.

While this happens, the challenge is to determine the right amount of water to lay down to keep the plants green, yet avoid standing water. In one of the lower areas of the retention basin where much of the run-off water collects, the district has installed two dry well tanks filled with gravel to get the water below the hard pan, the installation of which has eliminated water ponding in that area.

District staff is reducing nozzle sizes on many of the sprinkler heads close to where the water has been collecting in the lower areas of the retention basin. The larger-sized nozzles will be retained to provide sufficient water in the areas that are dry and need to receive more water.

The challenge during the hotter months has been to provide sufficient water to keep the park green and, compounded by the percolation problems, to avoid standing water. With the cooler temperatures we are now experiencing, the district has the opportunity to experiment with the sprinkler nozzles to regulate the output and create an irrigation balance for the varying water needs in the dog park and retention basin areas.

Q: Any idea about what is planned for the dirt lot on the southeast corner of Allen Road and Hageman Road directly to the east of the feed store and at approximately 12892 Hageman Road on Google maps?

- Darren Boor

A: The site is in the county but it and areas east and south are being annexed into the city, said Principal Planner Martin Ortiz of the city Development Services Department.

The city has been speaking to the property owner and a representative about developing the site but they haven't submitted any formal application for development. They must wait for the annexation to be complete before doing so, Ortiz said.

The annexation will take another nine to 12 months, he said.

Q: Is the Bass Pro Shop deal dead? I noticed in my last catalog that Bakersfield is no longer listed as a future site.

- Jim Hanley

A: The company's initial plans to build a store here were postponed because of the bad economy. There is no new information to share, Bass spokesman Larry L. Whitely said this past week.

Q: What is the new building that looks like a restaurant next to BJ's going to be? Also, what other restaurants are coming to Bako?

- Jason Chamberlain

A: That's a Panera Bread, which is expected to open by the end of the year.

As for other restaurants, city Planning Director Jim Eggert said there's nothing new for his office to report, likely due to the slow economy.

Q: In the last month or so we have started to hear a loud "horn"-like sound in the early morning hours. It almost sounds like a fog or air horn. We're located in The Oaks right off the corner of Gosford and White Lane.

This horn is very loud and I'm sure other people are hearing it as well. It seems to go off at weird times, too - there is no consistency to it. One night it'll go off at 11:33 p.m. where as on other nights it goes off between 2 and 3 a.m. Each time it sounds three times in a row and then oftentimes, a couple of minutes will pass and then we'll hear it three more times.

We're curious to know what this is. With the Coca Cola, Nestle and other factories in this area, we're wondering if it isn't coming from one of those locations. We were also wondering if it might be an overnight construction team building the new Wal-Mart.

- Jenae Bingham

A: We asked several city officials and their guess was it's a train. But if any other Ask TBC readers have a different possible answer, send us an e-mail at the address below or call 395-7417.

Ask The Californian appears on Mondays and Thursdays. Submit questions to asktbc@bakersfield.com or to The Bakersfield Californian, c/o Christine Bedell, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302.