Arkansas River at highest level in 10 years

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect a correction from CPW regarding warnings of dangerous conditions in the water below the Lake Pueblo State Park dam.

(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The Arkansas River is running at some of its highest levels seen in 10 years, and on Friday, June 7, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) issued a warning and urged the public to avoid the water below the Lake Pueblo State Park dam for recreational activities because of the dangerous conditions.

The Pueblo Fire Department (PFD) had to rescue a rafting group this weekend who found themselves stranded just south of the dam. Luckily those people are fine, but now officials are closing many access points to keep people away.

“We’re treating this as: ‘We do not want the public in the river.’ If you’re close to the river, stay at least 10 feet away from the moving water. The river right now, for recreational use, is closed,” said Capt. Nathan Schwalm with the PFD.

PFD is warning people to avoid the Arkansas River below the Lake Pueblo State Park Dam as water levels are dangerously high. “For this time of year, the river runs roughly around 2,500 CFS (cubic feet per second), right now it’s approaching 6,000,” added Schwalm.

They say anything above 3,000 CFS is a dangerous level and right now the river is more than double that. “A bunch of the trail is impassable. It’s underwater. So, I had to cut back. I went across the 8th Street Bridge, went on the other side, got on Santa Fe, then pretty much went up so I could avoid that part and then come back over,” said Rocky Khosla, a local biker.

It comes amid an alarming spike in water-related deaths here in Colorado. According to CPW, there have already been 16 water-related deaths in our state so far, and last year, there were 32.

“With the dangers of the high water, a lot of times people aren’t wearing life jackets or the proper gear. Sadly, these rescues often become a recovery from where they have drowned, then we have to go in and recover the body,” added Schwalm.

The quick-moving water is also collecting debris like trees and other objects adding to the danger. “It could happen right away before you know it, you could get struck by a piece of debris, or the river current is so strong right now… it’d be hard to self-rescue,” says Schwalm.

Officials say to avoid the river until further notice.

“I think all I would say is just respect the river, respect the water, the volume of water, and the force is just incredible. If you think you’re going to outswim things, the water always wins. So, you know, please be careful,” added Khosla.

Authorities say when it is safe, bring a life jacket, waterproof phone bags, and a knife to free yourself if caught on something.

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