For five years the water – a mirror of our striking blue skies – has been calling.
Passing motorists on County Road 211 slow for a longer look. Boaters and paddlers imagine setting out to explore the far shore. Anglers look for the telltale rings of rising fish. And on hot days, kids in the backseat clamor to cool off with a dip.
But for five years, the gates to Lake Nighthorse have been locked. It is good news indeed that with the release of a final environmental assessment of the proposed recreation plan, the gates may soon swing open.
Five years can be a long time to wait. It is also ample time for folks to put their own spin on what the perfect recreation plan for Lake Nighthorse might look like. Understandable then, that while many people are happy with the recreation options chosen by the Bureau of Reclamation, others are quite upset.
The plan calls for incremental development of the reservoir, day-use only and a trail connecting the lake with the Animas River Trail, among other amenities. The lake will be open for fishing, swimming, paddling of all kinds, and from mid-May until mid-November, motorized boating, water skiing and wake boarding.
It may be ironic that the loudest cries of disappointment are coming from those who advocated for the quietest and most peaceful forms of recreation, but their voices are valid.
Those who called for non-motorized use were not shy during the public comment period, and they had plenty of company (you can read all the comments online at: www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/ea/pdf/LakeNighthorseEA_Comments.pdf).
And their points are valid. It is a small reservoir ringed close-in with steep hillsides; noise, wakes and the unfortunate but common mix of alcohol and fast boats are concerns.
And how does the bureau protect the quality of the water, one of the stated priorities of the entire AL-P project, from the fuel and exhaust fumes that come with motorized use?
Perhaps two days a week, or on alternating weekends, the lake can be closed to motors?
The Bureau of Reclamation was wrong to ignore so many voices. Now is the time to listen, and provide some quiet use options as well.
