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Routt County Extends Tubing Ban On Waterways

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- The rivers and creeks in north-central Colorado are still running high and fast from the melting snow, so Routt County authorities have extended the ban on tubing.

Authorities say no tubing is allowed until July 15, but tell the Steamboat Pilot & Today that doesn't mean no one's doing it.

Record snowfall this year resulted in high levels of runoff and flooding in parts of Routt County. Federal officials say the Yampa River in downtown Steamboat Springs was flowing at about 2,650 cubic feet per second earlier this week. The average this time of year is 559 cubic feet per second.

Commercial tube operators are waiting for the water levels and flows to decrease before inflating the inner tubes. But authorities say they've seen some people floating on the Yampa.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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