Severe weather prompts warnings about safety on Colorado waterways

DENVER (KDVR) — High winds from Tuesday’s storm are prompting new warnings about dangerous conditions on lakes and reservoirs across the eastern half of Colorado.

In a post on X Tuesday morning , the National Weather Service in Boulder offered a heads-up for anyone planning to boat or paddle. NWS suggested everyone needed to be back to the shore by noon in the mountains, 2 p.m. along the Interstate 25 corridor and 4 p.m. on the eastern plains.

“You’re paddling against the current, against wind and it can really sap a lot of your strength,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said. “That’s why we see a lot of people get stranded out there, need rescuing or even fall off of their watercraft.”

CPW, which manages Cherry Creek and Chatfield State Parks, does not require paddlers and boaters to get out of the water at specific times for incoming weather.

“We don’t have lifeguards because this isn’t a pool or a public recreation center, so you’re responsible for your own safety,” Van Hoose said.

In an emergency, rescue crews from both CPW and South Metro Fire Rescue will respond to water rescues at Cherry Creek and Chatfield.

“We’ve had almost 30 events happen already this year,” SMFR’s Colleen Potton said.

According to Potton, almost every water rescue SMFR responds to is due to bad weather.

“We’re putting a boat out in the water in some of the most treacherous times,” she said. “On a paddle board in this kind of weather is so scary. We had another event where we had hail coming down and people stuck out on the water.”

Potton says it is crucial for anyone thinking of recreating on the water to be familiar with the forecast and to always wear a life jacket.

“No matter how strong of a swimmer you are, our water gets cold here in Colorado. The weather is happening and we just need to be really aware of that,” she said.

In the mountains, areas like Dillon Reservoir and Gross Reservoir can be especially dangerous because water temperatures are too cold to go swimming. Mountain reservoirs also often have steep drop-offs a few feet out from the shore.

“You  never know what’s going to happen out there and you’ve got to ask yourself is it worth it to be safe or is it worth it to still stay out here?,” Van Hoose said.

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