Boulder County, Colo. - Sheriff Joe Pelle, after consultation with the Town of Lyons and the Lyons Fire Protection District, has concluded that, in the interest of public safety, the Saint Vrain creeks and river will be closed to tubing and single chamber flotation devices. The closure will take effect June 14, 2022 at 08:00 a.m. and will 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 expected to melt quickly with high temperatures forecast this week causing the creeks and river to continue to rise and exceed the Cubic Feet per Second (CFS) threshold needed for a tubing ban. As of today, the Saint Vrain River was flowing at approximately 1,000 CFS.

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/Randy Wilber, Special Operations Commander