Bonito Lake open to the public only for fishing

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — After two wildfires ravaged the Rio Bonito area in the past decade, Bonito Lake will finally be open this weekend to the public at sunrise on Friday, Aug. 30., only for fishing, the City of Alamogordo said.

Bonito Lake was initially supposed to open on Saturday, May 25. However, the City of Alamogordo added that it did not open after the Blue 2 fire began to spread in the area.

According to the City of Alamogordo, the 2012 Little Bear fire burned a large area before the Blue 2 fire, and monsoon rains washed away the gravel and sediments from the mountains into the lake.

After years of hard work, the lake and damn were restored, and the lake was filled with water in 2023.

Although fishing is only permitted now, the City of Alamogordo has begun restoring properties along Rio Bonito and Bonito Lake for recreational activities.

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