DURANGO A plan for recreation at Lake Nighthorse a long shot two years ago when State Parks said it was too broke to take on the job is almost done.
But boat launching, angling or swimming are still a year away.
Ann Christensen and Katie Nelson of Durango-based DHM Design told members of the public Monday that a draft recreation master plan will be ready for review by the Bureau of Reclamation within weeks.
The federal agency, which owns the Animas-La Plata Project of which Lake Nighthorse is a component, must assure that the recreation plan meets National Environmental Protection Act guidelines.
Christensen and Nelson presented two remaining elements of the master plan Monday:
A noise study that indicates that the decibel level of motorized boats on the lake will be less than the limit under state and city of Durango standards.
A financial assessment of capital costs and user fees to build and maintain facilities and services. Users will pay an entrance fee and additional fees for particular activities such as camping, parking and boating.
Grants and partnerships will be sought to finance capital costs.
The meeting Monday attracted about 60 community members who have been involved in development of the master plan.
Attending for the first time was former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., for whom the lake is named. Ron Bodo, whose family ranch included the land used for the lake, also was present. Bodo has attended several of the public meetings that developed the master plan.
Christensen said Tuesday that additional measures to protect water quality will be incorporated in the master plan before it is sent to the Bureau of Reclamation.
Trails around the lake must be sculpted to prevent erosion, and runoff from hard surfaces such as parking lots must be filtered and cleaned, Christensen said.
The sound study done by Hankard Environmental of Littleton found that decibel levels from the lake would be less than background or neighborhood noise at the closest residences north and west of the lake.
The state and city of Durango limit noise to 55 decibels during the day and 50 decibels at night.
A family living room with the television on or an office meeting registers 50 to 60 decibels.
By comparison, a jet taking off at 200 feet registers 130 decibels; a concert near the stage, 120 decibels; a snowmobile driver receives 110 decibels; and a motorcycle 25 feet away, produces 80 to 90 decibels.
Jet skis are banned from the lake.
The financial analysis was done by Gabe Preston of Rural Planning Institute of Durango. Estimates were based on attracting users within 100 miles.
The tight economy and still-unidentified funding sources require developing recreation in phases on a pay-as-we-go basis.
The total cost for five phases is $5.6 million, plus $265,000 for operations, which includes maintenance.
The investment would provide an access road, entrance station, inspection point for watercraft carrying invasive zebra or quagga mussels, boat ramp, parking, swim beach, a trail network and picnic area.
The figure is a far cry from the original estimate of $20 million. The earlier figure, Christensen said, was based on maximum allowable development under the environmental impact statement, as contrasted to anticipated demand.
Potential sources of capital-cost revenue include Great Outdoors Colorado, grants, donations, federal and state legislatures and local sources.
The Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District, which decided to promote Lake Nighthorse when State Parks backed out, will look for capital funding.
Management of the recreation area isnt determined. Possibilities include a new authority (a public agency with administrative power), a special district or modification of Animas-La Plata Project guidelines to allow it to fund recreation.
Lake Nighthorse, being created in Ridges Basin immediately west of Durango, will have 1,500 surface acres. The water, drawn from the Animas River, is for nonagricultural use by three Native American tribes and nontribal entities.
The reservoir is off-limits to the public until the master plan is approved and a manager is hired.
On the Net: Lake Nighthorse draft recreation master plan, www.lakenighthorse.com.
