Ethan Carlson joined Denver7 in November 2020. After more than three years as a photographer, he moved into the role of multimedia journalist.
Boating season at Barr Lake State Park will begin right on schedule on Wednesday, April 1, joining other state parks across Colorado.Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said boat ramps are opening across the state, and that the warm weather has played a role.
“If we don’t have ice, we’re able to open up a boat ramp,” Van Hoose said. “If ice is still on, maybe we’ll wait a week or two and see what the wind does, because if the conditions pick up… then that ice blows off and then we’re able to open up.”Before heading out on the water, boaters must remember to get their vessels checked for aquatic nuisance species and purchase a stamp. Van Hoose recommends getting your ANS check done ahead of time at any CPW office, but you can also get it done at your preferred state park while likely waiting for a little bit of time.“We’re just trying to protect our waters in Colorado from things that shouldn’t be here,” Van Hoose said. “We have these zebra mussels or quagga mussels that can latch onto our boats and live in our waters, and then they just multiply like crazy.”Life jackets are also strongly encouraged, especially at the beginning of the boating season when the water is still cold from snowpack.“That water might be 50 or 60 degrees,” Van Hoose said. “When you go in, you’re not expecting it to be that cold. Your body goes into a shock, so it can be hard to rescue yourself, and that’s where the life jacket comes in.”Many state parks have life jacket loaner stations for visitors who forget their own. They only ask that you return the life jackets when you are done using them.Boaters should also check the specific rules for their preferred state park. At Barr Lake, for example, boats must be 10 horsepower or less to protect wildlife.For those who have not operated a boat rececntly, CPW offers online boating safety courses.“That’s just a good refresher to make sure that you have everything you need on a boat,” Van Hoose said. “Maybe there are some things that you have forgotten, it’s just to be the safest possible that you can be on the water.”This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Barr Lake State Park Boating Season Colorado Colorado Parks And Wildlife Colorado State Parks Boating Open Life Jackets Water Safety Zebra Mussels
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
State assemblies kick off as Colorado Democrats gather to pick primary candidates for major officesThe assemblies aren’t the end of the nomination process — indeed, some high-profile names in Democratic politics are foregoing it. But assembly vote winners will land on the ballot’s top line.
Read more »
Lloyd Avant Hoping to Make Oklahoma's Run Game Better After TransferringThe former Colorado State running back could also be a special-teams weapon for Sooners.
Read more »
Jeffrey Donovan Says Colorado is the 'Sunshine State' and He's There to StayBurn Notice actor Jeffrey Donovan shares why he and his family are staying put in Colorado, citing its healthy living and favorable environment for raising children.
Read more »
37 Years Later, Ethan Hawke’s Defining Coming-of-Age Classic Surges Onto a New StreamerEthan Hawke on the red carpet
Read more »
How Tucker Carlson’s Bizarre Gear Became the Hottest Fashion Trend for LiberalsHe was trying to roast liberals. It backfired.
Read more »
NHL Player Props & Best Bets for Today, March 30: Carlson Fuels Anaheim OffenseOur NHL player props target John Carlson, Martin Necas, and Rickard Rakell on Monday night.
Read more »