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The St. Vrain creeks and river will be closed to tubing and single chamber flotation devices beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
According to a press release, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle decided on the closure after consultation with Lyons and the Lyons Fire Protection District in the interest of public safety. The closure takes effect at 8 a.m. Tuesday and encompasses the North Saint Vrain and Saint Vrain Creek from Apple Valley Road to North Foothills Highway.
Sheriff’s deputies will be posting notices and advising recreationists of the closure.
The release said that the South Platte River Basin snowpack is expected to melt quickly with high temperatures forecasted this week, causing the creeks and river to rise and exceed the Cubic Feet per Second (CFS) threshold needed for a tubing ban.
As of Monday, the St. Vrain River was flowing at approximately 1,000 CFS, the release said.
The closure includes watercraft such as single chamber rafts, single chamber belly boats, inner tubes. There is a specific exemption for kayaks and white-water canoes, which are permitted. Kayakers are strongly encouraged to exercise caution and wear personal protection equipment including a life jacket.
Violations of the closure are a civil infraction and could result in a $100 fine.
The closure follows two back-to-back tubing rescues on Sunday at LaVern Johnson Park. Two children tubed past their father in an unexpectedly fast current and one suffered minor injuries. Just hours later, seven tubers were stranded and needed the help of first responders.
