A number of people have worked on getting more designated no-wake, quiet days at Lake Nighthorse for four years. A group of us met with Parks and Recreation in February 2020 for a formal discussion and request for more quiet days in 2020. However, the decision had already been made for only two quiet days and brochures had already been printed, but P&R promised to meet with us again for the 2021 season before these deadlines.
Meet we did, Thursday Dec. 10, via Zoom. P&R offered only 7 to 10 a.m. on Fridays as a quiet addition! We looked at the results of the 2020 user season, the study they do at the end of every year: 94% of Lake Nighthorse users were quiet users – paddle boarding, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, walking/running, fishing with no motors and sailing.
The wake from motorized boats is allowed five of the seven days for only 6% of the users! And they want to give us three more measly hours, at 7 a.m., mind you. It was sort of an insult.
We’re not quite sure why this is so difficult to balance out – the quiet no-wake vs. the loud wake days. The no-wake days should be in the majority, with 94% of the users.
All we’re looking for is a quiet experience in a natural setting where we can enjoy our sport and the beauty and peace without loud motors, people water skiing, the disturbance of wake and a more Disneyland tone.
Martha McClellanDurango
