Death toll on Colorado rivers is rising because…
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Death toll on Colorado rivers is rising because of heavy spring snowmelt
Authorities across the state are warning people to avoid turbulent rivers
Malia Michel and Shelly Brown, program instructor's with the National Sports Center, cut right into the white water during training for the river rafting program that will hold whitewater adaptive paddle sessions for 6 to 8 pm every Thursday throughout the whitewater season along Clear Creek Whitewater Park 16, 2019 in Golden.
By Carina Julig | |
The deaths of two women in the Gunnison River on Friday brought the death toll in state waterways to five, and officials across the state are warning people to take caution when in the water because of heavy spring runoff.
The women died in separate incidents, according to the Gunnison County Sheriff's Office. A 31-year-old woman was paddle-boarding just west of Gunnison when she fell into swift currents and got stuck in a tree in the river. About two hours later, a 65-year-old woman died in a rafting accident where the Gunnison enters the eastern end of Blue Mesa Reservoir.
On Thursday, a woman died in a rafting accident on a guided trip on the San Juan River in Southwest Colorado. Her raft flipped in a whitewater section of the river north of Pagosa Springs, and she was swept three miles downstream, according to the Durango Herald.
Earlier in June, a 29-year-old man died in a rafting accident on the Eagle River near Avon. And a 42-year-old Texas man, who was on a rafting trip with Boy Scouts, died after his raft flipped on the Arkansas River west of Canon City.
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A search is ongoing for a woman who vanished after apparently tumbling into the South Fork of the Rio Grande River on Saturday. Roberta Rodriguez, 38, of Colorado Springs, went missing during a hike with her boyfriend in Wolf Creek Pass and has yet to be found, according to the Mineral County Sheriff's Office.
Runoff from this winter's heavy snowfall has led to turbulent rivers and creeks, and counties across the state are at risk for floods. Some counties are banning or discouraging people from water activity due to the increased risk.
Tubing has been banned on the St. Vrain River and its creeks in Boulder County. Clear Creek in Golden is being monitored day-by-day and is closed for tubing and swimming.
In a post on their Facebook page, the Golden Police Department warned residents that Clear Creek's current high water level makes it particularly dangerous.
"Please use extreme caution around Clear Creek at all times, even an accidental slip into the rushing water can become an emergency rescue," the post read.
Most of the Rio Grande River in Mineral county is closed to boats.
Commercial rafting companies are voluntarily avoiding sections of the Arkansas River between Granite and Buena Vista and through the Royal Gorge.
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Carina Julig
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