City to Reopen Two Fishing Lakes

Officials plan to reopen two small fishing lakes in February after spending about $290,000 to seal the bottoms to hold water.

The rehabilitation at the lake at Chris Carr Park will make it possible to revive a state-acclaimed fishing derby for disabled youngsters in the community. The derby is scheduled for April or May.

Lakes at Chris Carr and Jack Greer parks were fenced off in March, 1991, when water leaked out. Botulism developed at both sites, and fish and other wildlife were killed. The fish, ducks and turtles that survived were transported to Lake Huntington in Huntington Central Park.

For a while, crews from the Public Works Department attempted to save the lakes by pumping in fresh drinking water, but the water shortage forced them to stop.

City officials then decided to dredge both lakes and to coat the bottoms with a slurry seal containing a mixture of insoluble materials.

When work is completed, Chris Carr Lake should be about 5 feet deep, making it possible to again hold the city’s fishing derby for disabled youngsters. The derby had been discontinued because of problems with the lake, said Jim Engle, deputy director of community services.

The derby won a first-place award from the California Parks and Recreation Society in 1989 for being the best therapeutic recreation program in the state, Engle said.

The program was honored because it introduced a recreational activity that disabled youngsters can enjoy all their lives, he said. The city also sponsors a fishing derby at Chris Carr Park for all Huntington Beach youngsters a day after the derby for the disabled children.

Chris Carr Park, slightly more than 11 acres in size, is near Springdale Street and Heil Avenue. Jack Greer Park, also 11 acres, is near Golden West Street and McFadden Avenue. The water level at Greer will range from 2 1/2 to 4 feet deep. Both lakes will be stocked with blue gill, bass and catfish, Engle said.

The two lakes serve as catch basins for street runoff and aren’t natural lakes, Engle said. Officials plan to use fresh water to refill the lakes, which are scheduled to reopen Feb. 2.

The two parks remained open while the lakes were closed.