Colorado Parks and Wildlife Prepares for Water Rescues Amid Drought

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is training crews to perform water rescues without using traditional boat ramps due to falling reservoir levels ^[1].

These preparations are critical because drought conditions in the Front Range and other state parks may render standard launch sites inaccessible. If rescue vessels cannot be deployed via traditional ramps, emergency response times for swimmers in distress could increase.

CPW officials are focusing their efforts on Front Range reservoirs, including Cherry Creek State Park [1, 2, 3]. The agency is developing alternative deployment strategies to ensure that safety operations remain functional even as water levels recede [1, 3].

"We are training our crews to conduct water rescues without relying on traditional boat ramps," a Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson said ^[1].

To maintain accessibility, the agency intends to pivot toward specialized equipment. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife director said the plan includes using inflatable boats and airboats to reach swimmers if ramps are closed ^[2]. These vessels can be launched in shallower water, or from areas not served by concrete infrastructure.

Local marina management is also monitoring the situation. Jake Vuolo, marina manager at Cherry Creek State Park, said that if water levels drop too low, the agency may have to limit boating and adjust rescue operations accordingly ^[3].

These adaptive measures are intended for use during the summer of 2024 [1, 3]. The strategy aims to prevent a gap in emergency services during a period of high recreational activity and environmental stress.