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City calls on public for lake comments

The city of Durango has proven very effective at managing recreation for residents and visitors, and this success has built strong trust and support from residents. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board provides recommendations on recreation development to the City Council on behalf of Durango residents.

This board is aware of the strong community support for recreation at Lake Nighthorse. Our Parks, Open Space, Trails and Recreation Master Plan correlates with the Department of Interior missions for celebrating and enhancing America’s outdoors, to protect and appreciate cultural and heritage resources, strengthen Tribal Nations and engage the next generation by providing opportunities for education, volunteering and creative recreation.

Durango is prepared to manage recreation at Lake Nighthorse in a manner that achieves the guiding principles of the Draft Environmental Assessment. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board therefore requests that the following recreational features be included in the Record of Decision with a commitment to the planned implementation with the following key elements: a swim beach, day use and picnic area, natural and hard surface trails, trailhead(s), informational displays, campground(s), a non-motorized boat launch and breakwater(s) as required.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board support interpretive displays that recognize the place value that American Indians associate with the Lake Nighthorse region.

The Bureau of Reclamation should work with the community to reevaluate motorized use, especially related to noise, wakes and speed limits to encourage and inspire appreciation of nature-based activity at Lake Nighthorse. The Bureau should also explore winter season human-powered recreation and establish a multi-modal hard-surface trail for access between the Animas River Trail and the Lake Nighthorse recreational footprint to encourage community health and fitness.

Residents are encouraged to send comments on the draft Environmental Assessment, before May 25, to www.usbr.gov/uc/progact/animas/index.html.

Melissa Youssef, vice chair Durango Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

Durango



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