On Chabot, the BBAC will use its live release boat to anchor the trees in the water on concrete blocks on points in the bays of the lake's north end, according to Pete Alexander, park district fisheries manager. Chabot is an older reservoir where the habitat has decomposed with the passage of years and the bass, bluegill and crappie populations have declined. Planted rainbow trout (44,113 pounds in 2002 to date) and channel catfish (7,750 pounds) provide the bulk of catches by anglers on this East Bay impoundment.

"In Lake Chabot, the juvenile bass become part of the food chain for adult bass after the largemouths spawn," said Walton. "For the past few years, it's been tough to catch largemouths at Chabot. Chabot used to be known for its big fish, but there are virtually no fish left in the 2 to 4 pound range, the most prolific fish for spawning."

Because of lack of juvenile bass recruitment, Chabot's bass population is composed of a few big fish and the juvenile fish that they feed heavily upon. The installation of Christmas trees will allow the juveniles to seek safe harbor from the adult bass.

At Quarry Lakes, several local Boy Scout Troops and other volunteers will hammer rebar into the ground, attach chain to the rebar and chain down the trees to anchor them. The habitat work at Quarry will be done on currently dry land that will be inundated as the lake fills from winter rains, according to Mike Diehl, the Delta-Foothill Chairman of the BBAC.

Quarry Lakes, opened last December 15, is targeted mainly as a trout and catfish fishery now, although it has a resident population of smallmouth and largemouth bass. The district has planted 51,750 pounds of rainbow trout and 6,750 pounds of channel catfish in Quarry so far this year, while the DFG has stocked 5,100 pounds of catchable rainbows. The park district has also planted 32 brood stock Florida-strain largemouth in the lakes, according to Alexander.

Like at Chabot, the 1000 trees planted at Quarry Lakes will allow both juvenile bass to find refuge from hungry adult bass, rainbow trout and catfish.

Walton is hoping that the project at these lakes will be as successful as the ten year long Christmas tree project at Lake Del Valle, where smallmouth and largemouth populations have improved dramatically.

"Fifteen years ago, an angler on a typical day would catch 8 smallmouth bass averaging 8 inches each and one 1 pound largemouth," said Walton. "After 5 years of putting in trees, we saw a big change in the ecosystem. The smallmouth became larger, averaging 1-1/2 to 3 pounds, and the numbers of largemouths increased."

The largemouths at Del Valle now average 1-1/2 to 3 pounds and numerous fish in the 5 to 10 pound class are caught every year. Kenny Chive of Livermore set the lake record when he nailed a 14 pound, 8 ounce largemouth at Del Valle in 1999.

After the trees are placed, the trees will lose their needles the first year. In the second year, they will lose their smaller branches and by the third year they will be basically reduced to trunks.

"As the fisheries in these lakes mature, we will look at doing habitat projects at all of the other waters in the parks district," said Walton. This habitat project is an example of what can be done when anglers, together with cooperative regional government agencies, volunteer their time to restore fish habitat. The results gained from installing Christmas trees are concrete, visible and last for years to come. Rather than throwing the trees away and depositing them in garbage dumps and landfills, these trees are being "recycled "to help enhance the aquatic environment in two heavily used East Bay recreation areas.

"We are working on this project so that kids not even born will be able to fish at lakes with good fish habitat for years to come," explained Diehl.

"Our goal is habitat for generations to come."

I greatly encourage local anglers to participate in the project at Quarry Lakes, where volunteers are the most needed. A free tri-tip barbecue will be provided to all participants. Wear gloves, boots and warm clothes and bring rain gear, since the project will proceed rain or shine.

For more information, call Pete Alexander, EBRPD, 510-482-6030, Mike Riehl, BBAC, 925-443-8811 or Jon Walton , Walton's Pond, (510) 352-3932.