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Southern Ute Vice Chairman, Cheryl Frost takes to the podium to say a few words on behalf of the Tribe, during the dedication ceremony.
Dignitaries from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Bureau of Reclamation, and the City of Durango gathered at the edge of Lake Nighthorse for a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony, Monday, May 14.
Southern Ute elder Alden Naranjo, Vice Chairman Cheryl Frost and UMU Chairman Harold Cuthair stand alongside state and city officials for the ribbon cutting at Lake Nighthorse, Monday, May 14.
Southern Ute elder Alden Naranjo gave the blessing at Lake Nighthorse ahead of the dedication ceremony. Naranjo takes a moment to catch up with a colleague, Germaine Ewing, Division Head for the Southern Ute Lands Department, following the dedication, Monday, May 14.
Law enforcement donned their ‘Sunday Best’, and posted the colors prior to the dedication on Monday.
Durango Mayor Sweetie Marbury spoke on behalf of the City of Durango.
Kayaks and canoes lay beached along the shoreline of Lake Nighthorse, Monday, May 14. The lake opened itself up for public recreation April 1, which includes fishing and boating on the reservoir.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
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Lake Nighthorse recreation realized, water rights acknowledged

Friday - May 25, 2018 by Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum

Dignitaries from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, City of Durango and Bureau of Reclamation gathered at the edge of Lake Nighthorse for a dedication ceremony, Monday, May 14. The reservoir made history with yet another milestone once it opened for public recreation—  beginning April 1 of 2018.

“I would like to remind everyone here today that Lake Nighthorse was made possible as a result of the settlement of [Ute] water rights,” Southern Ute Vice Chairman Cheryl Frost emphasized in her opening remarks. “The Tribe asks that the City of Durango be stewards to this land, the waters — please don’t forget that our Ute water rights were settled with this lake.”

The primary purpose of the Animas La Plata Project is settlement of Colorado Ute Indian water rights and to provide them and other entities with a reliable municipal and industrial water supply.  “Although Lake Nighthorse is now open for recreation in certain areas, recreation will never take precedence over Tribal water rights,” said Russ Howard, General Manager Animas La-Plata Project. “We believe recreation can exist in harmony with the primary purpose.”

Ute mountain Ute Chairman, Herold Cuthair acknowledged the past leadership who was instrumental in bringing this project to fruition, and those who fought hard for the Ute people. “The water is sacred, the lands we stand on are sacred — we don’t take that for granted,” Cuthair said. “Water is life.”

“Having recreation at Lake Nighthorse will never reduce or forfeit in any way, the water available per the Tribe’s settlement,” Howard said. “Protecting water quality and water rights will always be the first priority of the ALP.”

The Bureau of Reclamation owns approximately 5,500 acres of land that surround and include Lake Nighthorse. In order to provide management and law enforcement for recreation, the City of Durango annexed 2,000 acres, 1,500 of those acres are the water surface of the reservoir. “The land and reservoir will always be owned and managed by the Federal Government,” emphasized Howard.

“To protect cultural resources in the area, recreation is only allowed in developed areas and 25 feet above the high-water level around the reservoir, Howard explained. The land around Lake Nighthorse that is off limits to recreation have been posted with “no trespass” signs and all visitors receive a brochure with rules for recreating at the lake. Destruction or removal of cultural resources will be prosecuted.

A traditional Ute blessing was given by Southern Ute elder, Alden Naranjo prior to the dedication ceremony.

 

 

 

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