By Shannon Lukens.
UPDATE AUGUST 9, 2024
The Yampa River will reopen for recreation on Saturday morning, Aug. 10. It’s thanks to the cooler weather today and rain that is forecasted throughout the weekend. Water temperatures in the Yampa will cool off. Happy tubing and fishing and paddle boarding and playing in the C-Hole.
The Yampa River is closed for all summer recreational activities. This means tubing, fishing, swimming, and paddleboarding. Water temperatures have gone up to over 75 degrees for the past two days, which prompted the closure for all commercial and recreational river use. The river will stay closed until showers and thunderstorms can cool things off.
Press Release from the City of Steamboat Springs; Aug. 6, 2024.
Commercial & Voluntary River Closure Enacted
Yampa River Water Temperatures Exceeds Threshold Criteria for River Health
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-August 6, 2024-Water temperatures in the Yampa River are on the rise moving above the allowed threshold and triggering the City of Steamboat Springs to enact commercial and voluntary recreational closures for the Yampa River. The closure will remain in effect until rescinded.
“With excessive heat across much of the country, the Yampa Valley is also feeling the effects,” said Rob Burdine, Deputy Director – Land Management. “The Yampa River water temps have exceeded 75 degrees for two consecutive days prompting the closure. While a river closure is never taken lightly, the long-term health of the community’s #1 natural resource is always top of mind.”
Due to high water temperatures (75+) over the past two consecutive days on the Yampa River, the city is implementing closures for all commercial activities on the Yampa River and asking the public to abide by a voluntary closure for all recreational river use starting tomorrow, Wednesday, August 7.
The weather forecast calls for hot temperatures and a chance of precipitation before possible cooler temperatures return for the weekend. Showers and thunderstorms are possible every day this week with temperatures anticipated to remain in the 80s.
Even as flows remain above 120 cubic feet per second (cfs) and remain attractive to users, it’s a different story for the water temperatures which significantly impact aquatic life. That’s why adhering to the closure is important for the biological health of the river even when flows remain higher.
The Yampa River experienced water temperatures greater than 75 degrees for two consecutive days, August 5 & 6, which exceeds the threshold for a mandatory river closure as outlined in the Yampa River Management Plan. All commercial outfitting operations are suspended under the closure. River users – tubers, SUPers, swimmers, anglers – are requested to adhere to the voluntary closure and avoid river recreation.
Notices will be posted at popular river access points and request everyone’s cooperation in protecting the Yampa River by staying out of the river until conditions improve. The health and protection of the Yampa River rates high with residents. Thank you for Respecting the Yampa.