Effective June 8, 2023 at 8:00 a.m.

Boulder County, Colo. - Sheriff Curtis Johnson, after consultation with the Town of Lyons and the Lyons Fire Protection District, has concluded that, in the interest of public safety, the North and Saint Vrain creeks and river will be closed to tubing and single chamber flotation devices. The closure will take effect on June 8, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. and encompass 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 South Platte River Basin snowpack is still above the median; continued rain is expected throughout this week, and the normal yearly and scheduled release of water from the local reservoirs will cause the creeks and rivers to continue to rise and exceed the Cubic Feet per Second (CFS) threshold needed for a tubing ban. Today, the Saint Vrain River was flowing at approximately 700 CFS and is expected to continue to increase.

The closure includes watercraft such as single-chamber rafts, single-chamber belly boats, and inner tubes from floating in the creek. There is a specific exemption for kayaks and white-water canoes, which are permitted; nonetheless, kayakers are strongly encouraged to exercise caution and wear personal protection equipment, including a life jacket. The sheriff is authorized to close waterways under Colorado Revised Statute (C.R.S.) 33-13-110(2)(c). Violations of the closure are a civil infraction and will result in a $100.00 fine.

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/s/ Cody Sears, Town of Lyons Sergeant