Bennet, Gardner and Tipton Urge Bureau of Reclamation to Open Lake Nighthorse

Press Release

Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner and Congressman Scott Tipton are requesting the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Commissioner open access to Lake Nighthorse at the earliest possible date. While the Lake Nighthorse Reservoir was completed in 2011, a recreation plan has not been agreed upon and the area has remained closed to the public. A report commissioned by the Animas La Plata Water Conservancy District found that recreation at Lake Nighthorse could stimulate upwards of $12 million in annual economic benefits for Colorado's La Plata County.

"I am pleased to see that all the partners are now on board to initiate a process that we hope will open Lake Nighthorse as soon as possible," said Durango Mayor Sweetie Marbury. "I appreciate our Congressional delegation showing leadership on behalf of Southwest Colorado to support our efforts to open Lake Nighthorse to the public. I look forward to the day when the citizens of Durango can enjoy the area for swimming, fishing, boating and other recreational uses."

In the letter to Commissioner Estevan López the lawmakers wrote:

"...we were pleased to see that, as of March 6, 2015, all members and partners of the Animas La Plata Project's Operation, Maintenance and Replacement Association have endorsed the assessment of a draft recreational plan for the lake. Given this momentum, we encourage the Bureau to expedite and prioritize its environmental analysis of the proposal, which would clear the way to open the lake to public access."

Lake Nighthorse is currently managed by a coalition of partners that helped build the original reservoir. Bennet and Tipton have been working to expedite the opening of Lake Nighthorse and have both sent letters to the BOR asking that a recreation plan be finalized.

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