Unprepared Paddleboarders Receive Citations After Rescue On Popular Colorado Reservoir
A Summit County Sheriff‘s deputy rescued two women on stand-up paddleboards at Dillon Reservoir after strong winds pushed them away from shore and into dangerous conditions.
The deputy spotted the women struggling in gusts reaching 25 mph, with rain falling near Peak 1. Upon reaching them, he found that only one of the women was wearing a personal flotation device, and neither was dressed appropriately for the cold and windy conditions. The deputy brought both women aboard his boat and returned them safely to the beach.
Both women received warnings for failing to carry whistles and for not having contact information displayed on their boards. The woman without a PFD was issued a citation.
Under Colorado law, stand-up paddleboards are classified as vessels, meaning all paddlers must have a readily accessible, USCG-approved life jacket on board. Anyone 12 and under must wear one at all times while underway. CPW strongly encourages adults to wear a PFD rather than simply carry one.
Colorado also requires vessels less than 39.4 feet in length to carry a whistle or horn, which neither of the women in this story did.
Dillon Reservoir sits at nearly 9,017 feet elevation, and even summer conditions on the water can turn dangerous quickly. Paddlers on Colorado’s high-altitude reservoirs are urged to check forecasts, wear appropriate layers, and always keep a PFD within reach.
Leave a Reply