Fishing poles, lazy afternoons on the water and picnics under the trees are often associated with a weekend getaway to the mountains. For about 250 residents of Berkeley Lake in Gwinnett County, there’s no need to travel to find that laid-back lake lifestyle year round. It’s just a few feet from their front doors on the 88-acre lake that is the community’s centerpiece.
The neighborhood began the late 1940s as Berkeley Lake Estates but didn’t get a water feature until 1950, when the lake was formed and dammed. A homeowner’s association was organized to oversee its upkeep, maintaining it as a destination for swimming, boating, fishing and socializing. Membership in the association extends not only to those homeowners who are clustered near the waterfront, but to anyone in the city of Berkeley Lake who wants to pay the $250 annual dues.
Keeping the lake in pristine condition has been a challenge for the last few years. Heavy rainfall damaged the dam, and in the fall of 2011, a massive effort to drain the lake began in order to make repairs. By April 2012, the water was gone, as were the fish who called the lake home.
“That was the first time the lake had ever been drained,” said 20-year resident Steve Seitz, who serves on the association board. “We brought in a biologist who helped us gather the fish, put them in tanks and relocate them in other ponds and lakes.”
Along with repairing the dam, coves were dredged, a beach area was upgraded and a fish-friendly habitat was established.
“When the lake was drained, it was surprising to see so little structure in it,” said Seitz. “We put in a lot of tree stumps, pallets and other materials suggested by biologists to improve it.”
With the work completed, the lake was refilled, and five months ago, fundraising efforts got underway to restock it. Residents raised more than $6,000 and worked with the state’s Department of Natural Resources and private fisheries to bring in 137,000 brim, catfish, minnows, large-mouth bass, carp and more.
“Our ‘Acre of Fish’ program was really popular,” said Seitz. “A $100 donation covered the cost of 1,720 fish. A lot of husbands gave $100 certificates to their wives for Mother’s Day; some sons gave it to their dads for Father’s Day.”
A few weeks ago, the community hosted a Big Fish Event, a kids’ art party and silent auction that wound up with a covered dish dinner. Other social events are planned, including Fantastic Fridays parties, Moonlight Dunk and Dines on pontoon boats, movies on the beach and campouts around a waterside firepit. But don’t expect to catch a whiff of a fish fry for some time, said Seitz.
“The fish we brought in were about two or three inches long,” he said. “We’ve had some kids and aspiring fishermen down there, hoping things are growing quickly. But it will take about two or three years for the fish to grow, and when they do, fishing here will be better than ever.”
Each Saturday, we shine a spotlight on a local neighborhood, city or community. To suggest a place for us to visit, e-mail H.M. Cauley at hm_cauley@yahoo.com or call 770- 744-3042.
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