Those looking to cool off this Fourth of July holiday by tubing in Boulder Creek will have to make other plans.
Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle and Boulder Police Chief Greg Testa on Wednesday afternoon announced a tubing ban for Boulder Creek effective until noon Monday. Floating and use of single-chambered inflatable devices, including inner tubes and air mattresses, will be prohibited on Boulder Creek from the confluence at Boulder Falls to the eastern city limits of Boulder.
Typically, the threshold for implementing a tubing ban is 700 cubic feet per second. Over the past several days, Boulder Creek flow has varied between 500 and 650 cfs, according to a city news release. With high runoff and an increase in the number of visitors to the creek for the Fourth of July weekend, the ban was put in place in the interest of safety, according to the release.
“Creek flows can increase quickly with little or no warning in Boulder,” Deputy Police Chief Carey Weinheimer stated in the release. “While we certainly want people to be outside and enjoy themselves, safety is our primary concern.”
Community members are advised to be aware of conditions and be especially cautious with children and pets near creeks and ditches. Anyone who fails to obey the tubing ban could be fined up to $50.
More information on Boulder Creek flow rates can be found at bouldercolorado.gov/flood/boulder-creek-flow-rates.
