Certain activities restricted on Arkansas River

(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The Pueblo Fire Department (PFD), Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced on Wednesday, June 12 that use of the Arkansas River would be restricted from the Pueblo Dam to the Pueblo County/Otero County line due to dangerous and high water.

According to the alert sent out, activities prohibited on the river at the current time include; whitewater canoes, kayaks, recreational swimming (including with a life vest), and use of any single-chambered air-inflated devices including inner tubes, inflatable mattresses, and inflatable rafts, and any multiple chamber inflatables.

The Arkansas River is flowing at just over 6,000 cubic feet per second, which the alert said is four times the normal flow of the river.

“Water awareness and safety is extremely important this time of year in our community,” said PFD Chief, Barb Huber. “The Arkansas River is experiencing high volume at this time because of the time of year and the increased rainfall, so we ask everyone to be aware of restrictions, closures, and safety hazards as we update the public about announcements.”

The alert warns the public to stay away from the banks of the river and streams as saturated banks can break away. In addition, the cold temperature of the water, much of which is coming from snowmelt in the mountains, poses a risk.

“The tailwaters below the Lake Pueblo dam are a popular place to fish and tube,” said Joe Stadterman, CPW’s park manager at Lake Pueblo. “While high flows such as these can be attractive to some recreationists, the current conditions are just too dangerous to allow the river to stay open.”

The alert states that PCSO, PFD, and CPW will monitor the river flows and coordinate the reopening of the river when water flows return to a safe level.

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