Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
More Information for Colorado Boaters

River Running

River Running Guidelines

1. Be sure each passenger in the boat wears an approved properly fitted PFD and a helmet that fits correctly.
2. Don’t overload the boat with passengers or gear.
3. Check your equipment before starting out. If using an inflatable raft, make certain there are no punctured chambers.
4. Be familiar enough with the route to plan for proper paddles and/or motors. Pack appropriate camping gear, first aid supplies, warm, easily dried clothing, insect repellent, fishing gear and license, food, tarps, and camera. Do not forget to waterproof your personal gear.
5. Be sure of your skills by starting with an easy run. If possible go with experienced river runners to learn the basic strokes and movements of the craft through various types of water.
6. Do not boat alone. Three boats are the usual minimum for a white water run. Keep the boat ahead of you in sight.
7. Fasten down all ropes so that there is no danger of becoming entangled in case you overturn.
8. Stop, get out of your boat, and look over all rapids and other danger spots from the shore. If in doubt, carry your boat around the difficulty.
9. Beware of overhanging trees, log jams, brush piles, and other obstacles that the water flows through rather than around. You can be pinned against them, possibly under the water, by the force of the current. Pass them on the safe side.
10. If capsized stay at the upstream end of the canoe. Your life is more important to save than equipment. If carried by the current, float on your back, keep your toes up and your feet together and position your body so your feet are pointed downstream. Never try to stand up unless the water is too shallow to swim. If a heaving line is tossed the rescuer should snub it to a tree or boulder.
11. Cold water can be paralyzing to both mind and body. Get out of it quickly. Do not lose your life trying to save your boat or equipment.
12. Be alert to changing weather conditions. Get out of the water before a storm hits.
13. Beach your vessel overnight a safe distance from the river’s edge and tie it securely to a tree or large rock in case of flash flooding, etc. When departing, carry it back to the water, do not drag it.
14. When leaving, secure all equipment and carry trash out with you.

Boating Safely in Colorado

For a land-locked state, Colorado offers a remarkable variety of places to play on and in the water. Colorado is a diverse country of mountains, grasslands, deserts, streams, lakes, and rivers; and many thousands of boaters choose Colorado waters for their boating activities.

However you choose to enjoy Colorado’s waters, there are plenty of opportunities. Canoe, kayak, or raft a creek. Ride the winds on your sailboat or windsurfer. Feel the wind across your face at the controls of your motorboat, the seat of a personal watercraft, or the end of a water-skiing line. Sailboat races, regattas, tournaments, and all kinds of special events happen on Colorado waterways.

Unfortunately, many Colorado boaters will have difficulties on the water, some of them very serious. In many cases, the problems could have been avoided by safe boating practices. Colorado registers over 100,000 vessels annually; many additional vessels such as non-motorized canoes, kayaks, and rafts do not require registration. On average, there are 81 boat accidents each year involving 110 vessels and resulting in 9 fatalities. Of these, 41% will involve motorboats and 39% personal watercraft. However, personal watercraft make up just 14% of registered boats, and motorboats account for 70% of registrations. Obviously, personal watercraft operators are involved in a disproportionate number of accidents.

Protect Colorado Waters and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers

As Americans, we love to spend time on the water. Protecting these resources is an important part of our overall enjoyment. A concern we all must address is the spreading of harmful plants, animals, and other organisms. These Aquatic Nuisance Species can hitch a ride on our clothing, boats, and items used in the water. When we go to another lake or stream, the nuisance species can be released; and if the conditions are right, these introduced species can become established with drastic results.

Why Is This Important?

These species can have a number of negative effects, including:

• Reducing game fish populations
• Ruining boat engines and jamming steering equipment
• Making lakes/rivers unusable by boaters and swimmers
• Dramatically increasing the operating costs of drinking water plants, power plants, dam maintenance, and industrial processes
• Reducing native species
• Degrading ecosystems
• Affecting human health

So What Can You Do? By following a simple procedure each time we leave the water, we can stop aquatic hitchhikers. Knowing which waters contain nuisance hitchhikers is not as important as completing the procedure every time we leave any lake, stream, or coastal area.

Simple Procedure Remove any visible mud, plants, fish, or animals before transporting equipment. Eliminate water from equipment before transporting. Clean and dry anything that came in contact with water (boats, trailers, equipment, clothing, dogs, etc.). NEVER release plants, fish, or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that same body of water. Introducing non-native species into Colorado waters can upset the balance of the ecosystem, thereby hurting the environment.

Eurasian Milfoil	Purple Loosestrife	Zebra Mussel

Become Informed and Take Action!

We can become more informed about this issue. As recreational users, history has shown that we will take action if informed. We will work to protect our environment if we know what to do. A very informative website is www.protectyourwaters.net. On this website, you can access:

• The latest news about this growing problem
• Detailed procedures to prevent the transport of nuisance species
• Impacts caused by these species
• Facts about some of the more common hitchhikers
• Resources and ideas for you or your club to get involved with prevention efforts
• Support materials to further your understanding of and involvement with the Aquatic Hitchhiker problem