It seems that citizen dreams of a Navajo-type lake close to town are evaporating. Features we were looking forward to are either being misunderstood, coerced away, given away, pressured away or forgotten.
The “Lake for no one” descriptor is nearly confirmed. Filled in June 11, there have been negotiations/squabbles about utilization ever since. The Feb. 7 Herald story, quoting Kathleen Ozga of BLM, confirms that citizens’ desires and recreational common sense might be trashed. Imagine a large lake, large fish, open only during daylight hours. Who would tow their boat then fight the limited launch capability to take it in the water and put it back daily, fighting the crowd, undergoing the mussel inspection another time? Who would leave it there overnight, if allowed, unattended by a family member? Who would rather rent a room rather than sleep on their boat, or the beach, or in an RV or tent? Who would want to tow his boat home and start the process over again each day of use? I argue very few! And the lake will be a financial disaster.
Considering the impressive and workable management plan of 2008, backing off from that for citizen utilization is almost a conspiracy against the taxpaying public and especially local citizens.
Why not just let the water go, sell it to someone down the Colorado River, and perhaps we’ll get fewer coastal fires, cheaper carrots and other agricultural products. Much better yet, provide copious amounts of water for the Dryside. Let those farmers be competitive with irrigated crops and, even though our dream and expectation will vanish, someone will benefit, but surely not the hard-working citizens of the Durango/La Plata County area.
Although not allowed to follow the detailed negotiations, it seems like the city of Durango’s involvement in managing the facility has led to undesirable operational effects. As a provider of services for a fee, the city (ignoring the county) should not have a voice in defining its capabilities’ except maybe to improve cost effectiveness or safety.
Bob Wilde
Durango
