When Colorado Parks & Wildlife boating safety manager Grant Brown goes on paddling trips in the Colorado mountains, he comes prepared for cold water temperatures year-round — no matter the temperature.

“Especially at elevation, the water stays colder longer,” Brown explained. “When I’m paddling at elevation, I always assume that water will be below 70 degrees.”

Colorado Parks & Wildlife and groups such as nonprofit Friends of the Yampa are working this spring to educate boating recreationalists of all types about safety measures necessary to prevent accidental drownings. Last year, 33 people died in Colorado in water-related fatalities, Brown said, including a man who flipped in a small pontoon fishing boat in mid-June during high winds at Bear Lake west of Yampa.

Cecilia Garza, administrative assistant at Steamboat Lake State Park, emphasized that Steamboat and Pearl lakes at approximately 8,000 feet in elevation remain closed to all watercraft until May 23.

Garza said Friday the lake water temperatures have not yet reached above 38 degrees even when it is sunny and 60 degrees outside.

“We are not recommending that people go out on the water yet,” Garza said, noting boat safety patrols are not yet on duty and only shoreline fishing is allowed currently. “Conditions are dangerous due to temperatures and rapid weather changes.”

This year, two people have died from water-related accidents so far, including a Steamboat Springs fisherman in a belly boat who died May 3 at Steamboat Lake and a boater in a canoe in mid-April at Spinney Mountain State Park, Brown said. The state agency tracked 32 water-related fatalities in 2023 and a record-setting 42 deaths in 2022.

Brown said deaths on Colorado waterways include multiple commonalities. A majority of the deaths in 2024 were males not wearing a life jacket who were boating alone or away from their party. Mostly the accidents occurred in the afternoons when winds were higher. Most of the deaths occurred with use of human-powered paddle craft, mainly kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, on flat bodies of water or lakes instead of flowing rivers, Brown said.

“Wind events are usually the contributing factor that cause the people to enter the water and to become separated from their vessel,” Brown said. “Then cold water shock takes over. Once they hit that cold water, they quickly gasp and panic. If you have life jacket on, you are going to be able to get your breath and bearings, as opposed to trying to find something to hold on to float.”

Brown said winds can make it very difficult to swim after a water craft not tethered to a life jacket.

“Generally, you are not going to be able to catch up with your craft once you become separated in a wind event,” Brown said.

The boating safety manager pointed to a tragic accident in late August at Rampart Reservoir east of Woodland Park where a male fell off his paddleboard. He was not wearing a life jacket in windy conditions and in 62-degree water. A dog on the paddleboard later swam to shore, but the man drowned as his companion watched from shore.

“When someone is plunged into such cold water, the shock from cold water immersion can cause your entire body to cramp leaving you unable to swim,” Brown said.

In last year’s water fatalities, two cases involved people on stand-up paddleboards who became entrapped in swiftwater hazards while wearing a lake-style leash tether on their ankle. Experts advise that safety straps be attached to a life vest (not on an ankle) and/or be a break-away style, especially in swiftwater.

Friends of the Yampa staff Katie Berning and Jeremy Bailey taught a River Workshop Wednesdays free class last week focusing on proper attire and safety gear, everything from wearing wool or synthetic layers under dry suits, to wearing water repellent splash jacket or pants, to attaching a whistle to a snugly fitting, Coast Guard approved, personal flotation device.

They encouraged people new to water sports to test out their gear and practice in a safe place such as a swimming pool or Fetcher Pond.

The nonprofit maintains Know Before You Go information pages at Friendsoftheyampa.com, and the educators encouraged all boaters to check the cubic feet per second flow first before boating. The Know Before You Go pages show current condition reports for six Yampa River sections in Steamboat, Milner, Hayden, Craig, Little Yampa Canyon and Juniper Canyon.

The educators also encouraged river users to consider taking a Swiftwater Rescue class through Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat, which is next scheduled for May 16-18. Also, the Swiftwater Safety Institute is offering a recreational level women’s swiftwater course May 24-25 in Steamboat.

Matt Jost, who teaches swiftwater safety classes for CMC, emphasized key gear for warmth and safety, noting the Yampa River temperature at 10 a.m. Monday was 48 degrees. Aside from such basics as river shoes with closed toes and good grip, Jost recommends a water sports helmet and 7-8 mm dry suit for use in active river pursuits.

Brown hopes boaters of all levels will work on safety preparations during National Safe Boating Week May 17-23. Various websites provide safety tips and videos, such as Safeboatingcampaign.com and Coldwatersafety.org.