Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Shrader and the Golden Police Department will limit access to Clear Creek both within Golden, including at Vanover Park, and in unincorporated Jefferson County.

The order prohibits water activities including belly boats, inner tubes and single chambered rafts, as well as “body-surfers” and swimming.

People who use kayaks, paddle boards, whitewater canoes and multi-chambered professionally guided rafts and river boards can still access the river, but law enforcement officials urge people to use extreme caution due to safety concerns about swift moving water and floating debris. Anyone who gets on the river must use a Coast Guard-approved paddling life jacket and wear a water-use designed helmet.

Violators may be cited and face a fine of up to $100.

Law enforcement officials say the restrictions will be strictly enforced and will remain in effect until water levels decrease.

Water across the state is running high and fast, but that’s normal for this time of year, when snowmelt and rain make the rivers swell, National Weather Service hydrologist Tony Anderson said.

“Anytime the rivers are up like they are right now, you have to be much more careful around them,” Anderson said. “It can create dangerous situations for people who either are not particularly careful or who are not familiar with what high water can do.”