The Boulder County Sheriff, in cooperation with the Boulder Chief of Police, today closed Boulder Creek to watercraft for the immediate future due to high-volume water flow. The closure spans from Barker Dam east of Nederland to the Weld County line north of Erie, and includes the section that flows through the City of Boulder and adjacent to the CU-Boulder main campus and through the East Campus. There is no direct threat to campus at this time.
The closure includes watercraft such as rafts, belly boats and inner tubes. While there is a specific exemption for kayaks and white water canoes, kayakers are strongly encouraged to observe caution. Violations of the closure are a Class II petty offense and will result in a $50 fine.
Recent warm weather is promoting the melting of the snow pack, adding significantly to the amount of water flowing in the creek. As of today, Boulder Creek was flowing at an estimated 857 cubic feet per second (CFS), and normally flows at a rate between 100 and 300 CFS. City and county officials do not anticipate closing South Boulder Creek.
Visitors to the campus and those attending workshops, conferences and camps are encouraged to avoid activities near or on Boulder Creek until further notice. Also, CU faculty, staff and students are encouraged to pay attention to media reports and campus e-mail for updates if the situation changes.
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