Wondering what they have done to the lake

By ROBERT FREEMAN

Our family was at Rancho Monticello Resort less than eight years. Within those years, we spent a lot of our personal family time informing others that this decision was coming and it was going to be a final decision with lasting impacts.

My wife, my son of 12 years old, and my daughter of 9 years old, understood the decision and how it would affect our future and all the other visitors of these resorts. From the meetings at the fairgrounds to the internal meetings at our resort, we knew that complacency and no action was not an option based on our principles and our morals. A family who spends time with a common interest will remain strong. A family divided will separate and eventually go their own ways and fragment. We are already feeling the effects.

This was not about our little 40 x 12 trailer that had to be removed. This was about our future with family and friends staying close. Fortunately, we were able to donate a perfectly good trailer to someone in need of a home. We were able to accept the fate that the Bureau of Reclamation decided. This was not the favored alternative to the future of Lake Berryessa, however, it was very challenging to compete with the government. Besides, they had to right a wrong. Many years of mismanagement on their part could not go unnoticed. Who was at fault for not enforcing codes? Protecting the environment? Allowing free public access and not completing several projects to address this very issue? It was not us; we obeyed the laws, paid our fees and welcomed anyone who appreciated and respected the lake. When we were making our position, we had more questions than answers; we were concerned about the future of the lake. The Bureau was not really sure of what the lake would look like but moved forward despite a lot of opposition from city leaders, businesses and local folks.

I am now seeing the negative effects of the bureau’s actions. Closed resorts, angry businesses, displaced families and on a typical beautiful weekend, there were just two dozen boaters (mostly fishermen) and a couple of kayakers. Many will not be coming back; others will find other places to go instead. I sat there with my son wondering, “What have they done?”

(Robert, Alicia, Ashley and Brandon Freeman owned a trailer at Berryessa and live in Concord.)