SAN JUAN COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – After a drowning at one of New Mexico’s largest lakes, one commissioner is urging the state to do more to save lives.
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According to New Mexico State Parks, Navajo Lake is the second-largest lake and second-largest state park in New Mexico, but it comes with challenges.
“Farmington to Navajo Lake it’s about a good 45-minute drive. We’re out here without any resources at Navajo Dam if an emergency were to happen,” said San Juan County Commissioner Terri Fortner.
Back on July 27, an emergency did happen when an 18-year-old man drowned near the marina. According to Fortner, a New Mexico State Police lieutenant said their dive team wasn’t available, and their equipment was hours away in Albuquerque. Several hours went by when the marina owner went in and retrieved the body.
“I’d like for all our emergency teams to work together with the best resources possible to save a life and prevent drownings. Whatever we can do with the county, with the state police, in the parks as well. We can work together to make sure that our population is safe,” said Fortner.
That’s why Commissioner Fortner sent a letter to the governor. She worries there isn’t enough law enforcement on hand. She wants to improve safety and is hoping nearby agencies can come together to make a plan, which local law enforcement wants to do.
“One problem that we have had in the Navajo Dam area is just a lack of resources specifically with the state parks personnel,” said San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari. “We find ourselves continually having to meet new personnel out there or fill in the gaps because they don’t have the proper coverage out there.”
New Mexico State Parks said hiring park rangers is a challenge “The uniqueness of some of our locations also provides some challenges. They’re very rural, sometimes there’s not housing,” said Toby Velasquez the Director of the New Mexico State Parks Division.
Local leaders also want to add more signage to encourage life vests are always worn. “I really feel that we need to take a very proactive step forward in making sure that all of our entities get together and start planning for these types of situations,” said Sheriff Ferrari.
New Mexico State Police sent KRQE this statement:
We encourage everyone to know their limitations in all capacities when near bodies of water. We want the public to have a good time when near the water. Although we have a dive team, their primary mission is to assist any agency in locating lost individuals in the water and unfortunately, to recover individuals who have succumbed to the water. Our dive team is not a patrol element. They respond to scenes as quickly and safely as possible in hopes of a favorable outcome.
There are seven park ranger positions focused on law enforcement at Navajo Lake. New Mexico state parks said only two of those positions are filled.
