Construction Along Aquedect Begins--Fishing, Biking Stalls

A sacrifice has been made at the California Aqueduct. And it has been done quietly, without much fuss or fret. And without much debate, once priorities were considered.

The growing need for an adequate water supply in Southern California will suspend fishing on a 60-mile stretch of the aqueduct for at least a year.

The hiatus will allow for construction to enlarge the water capacity of the aqueduct under a Metropolitan Water District contract with the state department of water resources.

In the end, it was bath water over trout fishing. Clean cars over rod and tackle.

And a guarantee of a sufficient water supply for the future.

“This should serve the needs of Southern California until (the year) 2220 or so, give or take a century,” said construction engineer Tod Santos.

Construction begins this week on the 20-mile bookend stretches of the project, closing those areas to fishing and biking immediately.

Work on the middle portion of the project, which runs through Quartz Hill at 70th Street, is still in the bidding stages, but should begin by the turn of the year.

The three separate projects are part of an overall aqueduct construction plan that is scheduled to be completed by 1991 at a cost of between $200-$300 million, according to Santos. That figure, however, does not take into consideration the cost to local fishermen in terms of lost access.

But that might not be such a great loss after all.

“A few customers come and discuss the aqueduct, but it’s not something they go back and back to,” said Steve Wapnick, owner of Steve’s Fishing Tackle in Northridge.

“I’ve fished it twice, but the access isn’t that easy and the whole aqueduct isn’t open for fishing,” Wapnick added.

The numbers back up Wapnick’s outlook. According to the most recent state census on aqueduct fishing (circa 1982), there were 99,000 anglers on the 444-mile waterway during the calendar year.

Of the total, 28,000 fished at one of 18 specifically designated state access sites, which breaks down to more than 1,500 anglers a week at each site.

The other 71,000 fished on a walk-up basis, according to Pat Moore, information officer for the Department of Fish and Game.

Five of the state-designated sites are included in the 60-mile construction project that runs from Pear Blossom in the Antelope Valley west to Quail Lake.

More than eight species of fish are found in the aqueduct waters, which originate in the San Joaquin Delta in Stockton. Striped bass and catfish are the primary species. Largemouth bass, crappie and starry flounder also are found.

The fish, if not the fishermen, will be unaffected by the construction. Bypass pipes will be built to keep the aqueduct flowing and the fish afloat while the main canals are enlarged.

“The fish will continue through their same path,” Moore said. “There have been occasions when we’ve lost fish, but those were instances of short work.”

In addition to fishing access, bike trails along the aqueduct also will be closed.

“It’s a nice place to spend the day, but from a fishing standpoint, it’s not all that popular,” Wapnick said.

From a water standpoint, it could be a thirst-quenching proposition.