Arivacans protest new rules on size of motors at local lake

Since January, Arizona Game and Fish has opened several smaller lakes to permit boats with small gasoline motors, and some people think the restrictions against them should be restored.

Before, these lakes permitted only small battery-powered motors.

Arivaca Lake, about 30 miles southwest of Green Valley, was one of the lakes that is now open to 10 horsepower motors or smaller.

Pena Blanca Lake, about 15 miles northwest of Nogales, was also changed from no gasoline motors to the smaller motors.

Pena Blanca is open now, although major rehabilitation is under way to remove the threat of mercury-laden waters.

Resident Nick Wyatt is working to restore the no-motor rule to Arivaca Lake and is circulating petitions saying the signers “are totally against allowing gas motors” on the lake.

It adds: “Let’s go back to small electric motors … to preserve the pristine state of one of the very few primitive lakes in Southern Arizona.”

Don Mitchell of Arizona Game and Fish’s Region 5, said the state commission in January changed the rules at several small lakes to permit 10 horsepower motors or smaller.

The state receives some federal tax money that can be used for repairs, maintenance and general upkeep on all public waters that permit gasoline-powered motors, Mitchell said.

He said Arivaca Lake is in need of major repair work, including the boat-launching ramp and “the rest rooms are in horrible shape.

He said a new low-water boat ramp has been built. At times, the original boat ramp is totally out of the water.

Arivaca Lake is about 50 years old.

Wyatt said water from the lake runs into Arivaca Creek, which replenishes the wildlife-viewing cienega just east of Arivaca.

After the water leaves the cienega with its board walk it runs on west to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, passing another bird-watching area.

Wyatt said he wants to know if an environmental impact study was done to see if the gasoline motors would damage the lake.

Wyatt said he’s also concerned that powered boats create wakes that threaten smaller kayaks, Jon boats and other light craft.

On Earth Day, April 22, Wyatt and about 12 other local residents posed at the lake holding a large sign saying “No Gas Motors on Lake Arivaca.”

Arivaca Lake receives its water from the summer monsoon rains, and often the spillway is dry during hotter months.

The game and fish commission opened about half a dozen state lakes to motors in its January decision.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749