What’s up with Durango’s newest reservoir? It’s located at the U.S. Highway 550/160 intersection, just south of the Welcome to Historic Durango sign. Is the city drafting a Recreation Master Plan for this new attraction? When can we boat and fish on our beautiful new lake? Sign me, Anna Mouse LaPlata
The first thing we need to do is figure out what to call it. Little Lake Nighthorse? Nah. How about Lake Durango? Already taken.
Maybe we could call it Loch of History in honor of the maligned artwork erected beyond the northwest shore. (The horizontal string of rocks across the mud bog kinda looks like that statue.)
In any case, the Colorado Department of Transportation owns the land. Therefore, let’s dub it the CDOT Blue Lagoon. Naturally, we had to float this past our good friend Nancy Shanks, CDOT spokeswoman, who frequently finds herself swimming upstream.
Nancy confirmed that the CDOT Blue Lagoon is in the department’s right-of-way, and that adds a layer of complexity for recreational users.
When engaging in water sports, people must wear a PFD, a “personal flotation device.” But CDOT also requires hard hats and fluorescent orange or green vests to be worn on site. It’s called PPE, or “personal protective equipment.”
“When visiting the CDOT Blue Lagoon, you will need your PPE as well as your PFD,” Nancy quipped PDQ. “That will create some interesting tan lines.”
Unfortunately, there won’t be much fun in the sun at the less-than-natty natatorium. The depressed area is actually a water-retention pond for storm runoff from the highway, the train yard and even downtown.
Instead of rain water and snowmelt going directly to the Animas River and carrying icky street stuff with it, the water collects in this low spot. The sediment sinks, and the water percolates through the soil, getting cleaned as it goes toward the river, Nancy explained.
Meanwhile, the rocks across the CDOT Blue Lagoon act like a driveway or pier, offering access for maintenance but not for the general public seeking boating, swimming and angling opportunities.
“But if we were to open it to recreation, I bet we can have it ready way before Lake Nighthorse ever opens to the public,” she said with a laugh.
H H H
Last Saturday, I went to south City Market to pick up some stuff for a barbecue, and I was shocked. Outside the store were ceramic jack-o-lanterns for sale. Inside the store were bags of trick-or-treat candy. It wasn’t even Labor Day, and the Halloween stuff was out. Do people really shop for Halloween stuff two months in advance? – Spooked
Mrs. Action Line noticed the very same thing, but she didn’t use the word “stuff.” She used a four-letter word.
But don’t jump to conclusions. Mrs. Action Line has breading, manners and class – the precise traits that Action Line lacks. She said “junk.”
Whatever your descriptive word, there are people out there who feel compelled to be fully stocked and totally decorated for every conceivable holiday, celebration or commemorative event.
In the presence of high-fructose corn syrup and dubious bric-a-brac, some folks just can’t contain themselves.
“You’d be surprised,” said a City Market manager, who asked to remain unidentified. “Holiday and seasonal items move very quickly the minute we put them out. That includes the bags of candy and home décor.”
So don’t assail merchants for displaying products that fly off the shelves. Retailers are supposed to sell things.
Blame consumers. They’re the ones fueling tricked-out trick-or-treating. Can anyone say “pimp my pumpkin?”
By this standard, you should fully expect to see Yule trees for sale at Home Depot before Oct. 31.
After all, if City Market offers Halloween knickknacks 61 days before Halloween, consider this: There are a mere 54 shopping days separating Halloween from Christmas.
’Tis the season.
Email questions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. You can request anonymity if you have stocked up for St. Patrick’s Day coming up on March 17.
