Following a rise in accidental drownings and water-related fatalities, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have announced heightened enforcement measures to ensure the safety of individuals engaging in water-based recreational activities during the summer season. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife public information officer Rachel Gonzales, the state has recorded approximately 20 water-related fatalities related to recreation, surpassing last year’s total and approaching the record set in 2022. Officials emphasized that wearing life jackets is crucial for safety.Following a rise in accidental drownings and water-related fatalities, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have announced heightened enforcement measures to ensure the safety of individuals engaging in water-based recreational activities during the summer season. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife public information officer Rachel Gonzales, the state has recorded approximately 20 water-related fatalities related to recreation, surpassing last year’s total and approaching the record set in 2022. Officials emphasized that wearing life jackets is crucial for safety.
A kayaker paddles on Chatfield Reservoir as Colorado Parks and Wildlife Park ranger Tyler Hall checks to see if they are wearing a life jacket at Chatfield State Park on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Eli Imadali/Special to The Denver Post)
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say things will be especially tough for people who recreate on the water this summer, as the agency steps up enforcement amid a surge in drownings and water-related deaths.
Rachel Gonzales, public information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said there have been about 20 water-related fatalities from recreation in the state this year. It’s still early in the summer season.
“It’s not even the Fourth of July weekend yet and we’ve already had almost 20 fatalities involving recreational water damage. That’s not okay,” Gonzales said. “We as an agency are ramping up patrols and enforcement.”
For the past few years, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has kept an unofficial count of water-related deaths that occur in state parks or are reported to the agency. So far this year, water-related deaths surpass last year’s total, when 32 people died during the summer season. This year is closely tied with 2022, when a record 42 people died while recreating in the water.
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