ALAMOGORDO — The future of public access to Bonito Lake takes center stage Tuesday, September 1, at 6 p.m. as Voices of Alamogordo hosts a community forum at Otero Arts, 1118 Indiana Ave. at 12th Street, to discuss a fencing proposal that would close the lake to the public.

The forum comes amid renewed controversy over the lake, which residents waited more than a decade to see reopened. Bonito Lake was closed after the 2012 Little Bear Fire, when the burn scar left no vegetation and subsequent heavy rains washed silt and gravel down the canyon into the lake . In September 2017, Alamogordo city commissioners approved an $8.6 million contract to drain, dredge, and restore the lake , and with sediment catchment basins completed to protect against future erosion, the lake was refilled in 2023 .

Even the reopening proved star-crossed. The lake was scheduled to reopen in May 2024 — with trout stocked the day before — when the Blue 2 Fire forced the area closed once again . Bonito Lake finally reopened for fishing only on August 30, 2024 .

Barely two years later, the lake’s future is again in question. City Manager Stockwell has proposed building a fence around the reservoir, citing unsafe conditions, worsening infrastructure, and a lack of funds to maintain the area . Stockwell has argued the city’s primary focus should be preserving the lake as a dependable water supply, and that restricting access would help ensure it remains a reliable source .

The proposal has already drawn pushback. When Stockwell presented the closure at a recent commission meeting, some commissioners questioned whether fencing off the lake is the best way to address the problem, with one suggesting that if the campground is unusable, the city should close the campground rather than the lake, noting the area is a tourist attraction. The City Commission tabled a vote on the proposal until its September 22 meeting — making Tuesday’s forum a timely opportunity for public input before commissioners take up the matter.

City Manager Robert Stockwell will join the panel to explain his proposal and the reasoning behind it. Offering historical perspective will be former Mayor Susan Payne, who will discuss the lake’s history and the efforts made to reopen it to the public during her time in office.

Dr. Stephanie Hernandez, who previously served as acting city manager, will address the direction she gave during her tenure to seek funding for the lake, including a lodger’s tax proposal intended to support its operation.

The economic stakes of the debate will be represented by the owner of Bonito Bait and Tackle, who will speak to the significance of the lake and the livelihoods tied to its continued existence. Rounding out the panel are Commissioner Warren Robinson, who will discuss his role in the debate as an elected official

The forum begins at 6 p.m. and is hosted by Alamogordo Town News. It will be broadcast live on KALH Radio and streamed on YouTube for those unable to attend in person. Organizers are billing the event as a civil conversation and encourage community members to attend.

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