The Cortez Recreation Center, managed by the Parks and Recreation Department, is reducing its natatorium hours beginning March 1, according to a news release from the office of Parks and Recreation Director Creighton Wright.

The hours for the natatorium, which includes the lap pool, leisure pool and slide, will be open 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. The natatorium will be closed on Saturdays and will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays.

When open Monday through Friday, the lap lanes will be closed during the 9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., the news release said. Water aerobics class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The leisure pool will be open to water walkers from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The leisure pool/kiddie play area will be open from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.

On Sundays, the lap lanes will be available from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. when the pool transitions to open swim, one lap lane will remain open. The leisure pool will be open to water walkers from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The leisure pool/kiddie play area will be open from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., at which time, the leisure pool transitions to open swimming with endless river floating, water sliding, and fun in the kiddie play area.

Cortez is struggling with a lifeguard shortage.

“Most of our staff are active high school students, with spring sports, social activities such as prom, and college prep to fit in with their work schedule. Unfortunately, we get the short straw this time of year,” Wright said.

One full-time lifeguard spot and many part-time positions are available. It’s a physically demanding job. The prerequisite is a 300-yard continuous swim, tread for two minutes with no arms, and retrieve a 10 pound block from the deep end of the pool.

“We are developing an incentive package for this year,” the news release said.

For more information, contact aquatics supervisor Michelle Devall, at (970) 564-4080. Recruitment opportunities are available online at: https://www.cortezco.gov/jobs.aspx