Chollas Lake once supplied water to San Diego when the city was in its formative years, in the early 1900s. These days the tiny, 16-acre lake just north of state Route 94 in the College Grove area supplies fishing memories to kids in their formative and impressionable years.
The lake was designated as the area's only youth-only fishing lake in 1971, just five years after it was turned over to the San Diego Park and Recreation Department. No one over 15 is permitted to fish here, making it a haven for kids when adults abide by that rule. They don't always do that, and that's sad.
Union-Tribune file photo
At Chollas Lake, kids are the focus.
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For the past eight years, volunteer extraordinaire Joe Bain has poured his heart, soul, energy and his own money into making Chollas Lake a better place. He teamed with ranger Bill Roder of the city of San Diego and the San Diego Fly Fishers to improve the lake, adding such things as a Lend-A-Rod station that offers loaner fishing tackle, bait and mentoring.
Health issues have slowed Bain in recent months, but Bain remains as dedicated as ever to seeing this lake survive everything, including the city of San Diego Water Department's disinterest in the fishing program.
“That lake is really a little jewel, but unfortunately the jewel is losing a little of its shine,” Bain said. “It's a place where so many at-risk kids can go to get away from the gangs and other bad influences and take up the wonderful sport of fishing. What better sport is there than fishing to get kids involved in at an early age. They learn that this side of the fence is a lot better place to be.”
For Chollas to remain a kids-only fishing lake, the city will have to commit to keeping the lake filled. A city report found that Chollas is leaking and costing the city approximately $5,000 a month to replenish. The city's Park and Recreation Department pays approximately $160,000 a year to keep refilling the leaky little lake that loses half of the 3 million to 6 million gallons the city of San Diego pumps into it every month.
Bain contends there's no leak. A former engineer, Bain conducted a study of the eucalyptus trees that rim Chollas. Bain's figures indicate the trees and their extensive root systems are lapping up the water that the city claims is leaking out. He has the figures to prove it, but no one seems interested.
The Water Department's apparent lack of commitment at Chollas cost it a pledge from a local benefactor who wanted to donate $100,000 to improve the lake for fishing and recreation. Bain developed a three-year plan that would have worked fine had the private foundation been given assurances that the lake would remain full and vital. Many wonder if Chollas will be the first to go if the Park and Recreation Department's budget is slashed.
Bain's plan called for three aluminum-decked fishing docks, the relocation of two rock piles to deeper water, a gazebo, fish habitat enhancements and more that would have transformed the lake into the kids' fishing haven that Bain envisions it could be.
Bain said this week the plan is on hold.
These days, the citizens of Oak Park use Chollas as a gathering place, a place for walking and hiking, a green oasis in the midst of freeways, homes and malls.
The lake received a load of rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game last week. Friends of Rollo has donated catfish in the past. If adults don't fish them out, kids will catch some trout during during Christmas break.
This is the 23rd in a Saturday series on San Diego County's lakes. To see previous stories and a map of area lakes, go to uniontrib.com/sports/outdoors
