Questa economic board mulls investing up to $250K for fishing park

From the Santa Fe New Mexican - by J.R. Logan - The Questa Economic Development Board is considering investing up to $250,000 toward a project that would create a recreational fishing park and restore more than a mile of the Red River near the village of Questa. Representatives of the Enchanted Circle Chapter of Trout Unlimited approached the board a few months ago to propose the concept. Bobby Ortega, executive director of the board, said the board was eager to get involved. The board and a stakeholder group have set their sights on a river section starting at Eagle Rock Lake and going upstream less than half a mile to the Questa Ranger District Office. The basic idea is to create a fishing park with easy access along the river. At the moment, that section of river is plagued by fast runs and abrupt banks that Ortega said were carved by a bulldozer following a major flood. Because it is straight and fast, there is little cover for fish. To improve the habitat, structures such as boulders and logjams would be installed to slow the water and provide holding areas for trout. Trails would likely be improved, and the section would be stocked by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.Read more

Questa economic board mulls investing up to $250K for fishing park