Kristine Johnson (Herald, Mar. 19) takes credit for the public responses regarding comments and concerns about potential noise from motorized boating on Lake Nighthorse.
She claims these responses came from her opinion piece last year. Without question, there were a high number of responses in support of her position after publication.
Candidly, most of the general population did not respond because the decisions for Lake Nighthorse were made for the recreation and operation of the lake over six years ago.
Many people have not read the initial study. Before passing judgment, please go to the official Lake Nighthorse website on www.durangogov.org, and see all of the efforts that were made to engage the community. From these responses, an overall plan for the lake was put in place that met the desires of the overall population.
The time is past for new comment, and if Kristine Johnson is attempting to re-open the discussion, the same steps should be taken as in the first round to make sure it is inclusive, and not the opinions of a few to restrict all others.
Also, in the study you will find many restrictions on motorized boating, including that boats must be muffled, the types of boats that will not be allowed on the lake, zebra mussel control, and that there will be no active fueling on the lake.
In the official study, you will see all of the community members who participated to make sure the best plan was put forward. It is a plan that is inclusive and not exclusive, which most people will find attractive.
Don Ricedorff
Durango
