Tubing Restrictions Enforced On Clear Creek
By Jeff Todd
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4)- The water is running so quickly in Clear Creek that restrictions have been placed on recreation in the rushing water.
The City of Golden and Jefferson County have prohibited tubing, rafting, swimming and body surfing on Clear Creek.
"It's really safe that they put the restrictions in place," said Rachel Lewis who lives on the creek in Golden.
Last summer she took a dip in the river after peak run-off and still had a scare. "I got sucked underneath the water and I tried to swim out and I wasn't going anywhere. I was not prepared for it and I was not in shape to be swimming in the river. I should have known better," she said.
Kayakers and stand-up paddle boarders are still allowed in the water as long as the user has a life vest.
"It takes your breath away," kayaker Chris Popovich said about the cold, fast water. "It's dangerous for tubers to be in the water I think I saw the rangers putting up notices. If you spend time in the water, if you're swimming, if you're separated from your boat or your tube, your muscles don't work the way they should. You can't open or close your hands you can't bend your arms to keep yourself up."
The water is not only moving fast there is a also a lot of debris because of snow melt.
Those who don't follow the restrictions can be fined $100.
Jeff Todd joined the CBS4 team in 2011 covering the Western Slope in the Mountain Newsroom. Since 2015 he's been working across the Front Range in the Denver Headquarters. Follow him on Twitter @CBS4Jeff.
