The city’s recent management plan for Oxbow Park should raise questions as to whether the Parks & Recreation Department is a wise manager for Lake Nighthorse. With residents’ concerns being ignored and the disregard of others’ opinions, it is obvious the department’s scope should remain within the current city limits. The city’s strong-arm mentality goes beyond the Oxbow Park, to the heedless destruction of the Animas Valley as a viable wildlife corridor through the extension of bike paths, with no concern for wildlife habitat. Concerns raised by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife have been completely disregarded, resulting in negative effects to the river valley. While I have not been a big fan of the Animas-La Plata project, I would rather see the reservoir remain untouched than to have the city’s Parks & Recreation management continue to negatively affect this important habitat.

Ed Archuleta

Mancos