A Look at the Lake

After reading Greg Johnson’s article (“A Standoff at Otay Lake,” June 18), I was reminded of some of the turf squabbles we used to have with the other kids in the neighborhood sand box. The message I got from Johnson’s article was all too clear--we still act like kids, but the stakes have gotten higher.

As a three-time Olympian and avid outdoorsman, I approach the Otay situation with a center line perspective. Rather than arousing emotions, choosing sides, and forming battle lines, let’s be pragmatic and look for solutions.

It was downright impolitic of Johnson not to have interviewed a representative of the rowing delegation to determine precisely what is needed to maintain world class standards. From the article, one might well assume the entire lake will soon be crawling with rowers, pushing the fishermen and hunters out of the water.

Rowing is a highly disciplined sport requiring specific corridors that could easily be accommodated toward the middle of the lake, well out of the way of my buddies and I tracking fish along the shore line.

On a much larger front, we must consider the overall impact the Olympic Training Center will have on the athletic standards of America. The Otay OTC will be the only warm weather training center in the country, and one of the few in the entire world.

We can and will coexist at Otay. It’s a big lake, and we are not children any more.

JOHN HOWARD

Encinitas