CPW enforcing no-swimming rule at reservoir near Cortez

It’s not a new rule: Swimming and wading have always been prohibited, says CPW

By Cameryn Cass Journal Staff Writer

Thursday, Aug 8, 2024 4:34 PM Updated Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 5:33 PM

from The Journal

PHOTO:Narraguinnep Reservoir, on Colorado Highway 184 north of Cortez. (Cameryn Cass/The Journal)

Though people have been swimming at the Narraguinnep Reservoir for years, it’s technically against the rules because it’s considered a State Wildlife Area.

This past weekend, on Saturday, a wildlife officer at the reservoir was making rounds to make sure boaters and paddlers were wearing life jackets.

The officer also was making sure people weren’t swimming, which is not a new rule, according to an email from John Livingston, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman in the southwest region.

That comes as news to some Cortez residents.

“I’ve been living in Cortez for about three years, and … I’ve been going to Narraguinnep for 15 more years, and I’ve always seen people swimming there,” said Joe Crosby, a recreationist.

“My concern is they’re taking away from the community a public access swimming area,” said Crosby. “It’s just kind of strange.”

The water in the reservoir is owned by Montezuma Valley Irrigation Co., but it’s Colorado Parks and Wildlife that permits – or prohibits – certain recreation activities there, as it does at all 350 of its wildlife areas across the state.

In the Colorado State Recreation Lands booklet put out by CPW annually, the recreation activities authorized at Narraguinnep Reservoir include boating, picnicking and wildlife viewing.

The booklet does not list swimming.

However, it doesn’t list swimming as a restricted activity, either.

Listed restrictions include limiting public access to an hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset and prohibiting alcohol consumption, glass containers, camping and fires at the reservoir.

Dogs must also be on a leash unless they’re service animals or actively hunting.

Additionally, though there are no signs expressing this at Narraguinnep right now, all boaters “must have a life jacket with them on their vessel as well as a sound-producing device such as a whistle.” Children 12 years old and younger must be wearing their life jacket, Livingston said in an email.

It’s a Colorado Parks and Wildlife rule, among others, and Livingston said the signs that say it are being redone now. Once finished, they will be posted.

Livingston said CPW “cherry picks” what regulations are featured on the signs because there are 32 statewide general provisions and listing them all “would make the signs unwieldy.”

One of those provisions encompasses what CPW calls “water contact activities,” which aren’t allowed unless specifically authorized.

“This may sound vague to the casual reader and they need to reference the definition of water contact activities listed in Chapter 9: “Water contact activities” means swimming, wading (except for the purpose of fishing or hunting) … and other water-related activities which put a person in contact with the water,” he said.

Crosby said, “Obviously, if there’s no supervision, people are going to do what they’re going to do, so that could be a problem in the sense if they show up and start fining people.”

On Saturday, the “wildlife officer encountered adults who did not have life jackets with them and who had children without life jackets.”

Livingston said they’ve tried to educate people for a long time and issue warnings before ticketing, “but because of compliance issues, especially as it relates to paddle boarders without life jackets, more tickets are now being issued (statewide). The tickets are $100.”

Nobody got a ticket at Narraguinnep on Saturday, as CPW plans to better educate the public before fining folks.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has stepped up its enforcement statewide, though, especially as it concerns life jackets, “because of the high rate of drownings … this summer combined with the high frequency in which paddle boarders without life jackets are having to be rescued at waters around the state,” Livingston said.

Since March this year, at least 32 people have died in water statewide. Seventeen of these deaths were in reservoirs.

Narraguinnep Reservoir isn’t the only in the area following such restrictions on swimming and wading. Puett, Joe Moore, Summit, Totten and Groundhog all do too, to name a few.

“State Wildlife Areas are purchased with sportspersons dollars through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Their primary purpose is for providing wildlife habitat and wildlife-based recreation such as hunting and fishing,” said Livingston.

“The properties are not intended solely for human recreation and are managed accordingly. However, each SWA does allow different activities depending on location and available resources.”

Livingston recommended swimming at Mancos State Park instead.