Boating allowed at Alto Lake

Dianne L Stallings, Ruidoso News 5:29 p.m. MDT March 24, 2016

Alto Lake is added to Ruidoso's ordinance to allow boating as well as fishing, giving more recreational water-related options for residents and visitors

(Photo: Courtesy)

Boating will be all allowed on Alto Lake as well as Grindstone Reservoir under an amendment approved by Ruidoso village councilors at their meeting this month.

"Village staff was successful in July 2015 to secure stocking of fish into Alto Lake by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish," Village Parks and Recreation Director Rodney Griego said. "The Parks and Recreation Commission has completed an evaluation of facilities and services, which recommended the addition of boating to Alto Lake. Staff reviewed the request with fire, police and code enforcement departments and has received nothing but positive feedback."

Councilor John Cornelius noticed that the rules at Grindstone being applied to Alto as a lake added to the ordinance state that persons under the age of 18 years must have authorization of a guardian to operate a boat. He questioned if the wording should be "supervision," instead of "authorization."
"Otherwise, someone could send a kid out there by himself and I don't think that's the intent," Cornelius said.

Griego said New Nexico boating law does not specify age for a person operating a boat and he used the language in the existing ordinance. No incidences have occurred and when village sponsored events are conducted, an adult operates all boats, he said. He had no objection to a wording change, however.

Councilor Rafael Salas advocated allowing dogs to swim at Alto Lake and at Grindstone, but in the final vote, the prohibition was not changed. Councilor Joe Eby said if he was fishing, he would not want people and dogs swimming around when he cast with a hook at the end of his line.

Councilor Lynn Crawford said liability concerns could be involved in the ban and Salas said if a designated human swimming area was created, lifeguards would have to be hired.

Councilor Joe Gomez said the village law requiring dogs to be on leash or under voice control essentially eliminates the possibility of allowing them to swim. Dogs in the past have been spotted swimming at Alto, which is not as large and deep as Grindstone, and most likely that practice will continue with or without posted signs, councilors said.