WEEK OF JULY 20, 2023
VOLUME 121 | ISSUE 36
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County OKs short-term rentals
How to stay safe in Colorado’s outdoors
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
People, along with a dog, recreate in the water. BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After a strong winter and wet spring, the statewide snow runoff flowing into Colorado rivers, streams and lakes is higher than usual this year — and with large dumps of rainfall along the Front Range, that means outdoor recreators might encounter conditions they aren’t used to seeing. With high water on rivers this year, as of late June, there have already been 12 swift-water-related fatalities in Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “This year’s river flows are more dangerous compared to last year,” Michael Haskins, a swift-water investigator, said in a news release. “We strongly encourage people to check river conditions before you head out, and if you arrive and see high and fast water conditions you don’t know how to navigate or feel unsure about, please don’t risk getting hurt and the need for a river rescue,” Haskins added. Last year, the majority of fatalities
occurred because people did not wear a life jacket — and the state parks agency urges using that and other precautions to stay safe. Meanwhile, trails have also seen impacts from the wet weather. Heavy rainfall destroyed all bridge crossings over the Cherry Creek in Castlewood Canyon State Park in Douglas County, a June news release from the parks agency said. Here’s a look at how to stay safe when you’re recreating outdoors — whether on land or water. Staying safe on trails
Standing water on trails is one potential hazard for bikers to watch out for. “Check trail conditions before you go to be sure conditions are safe,” said Travis Duncan, a spokesperson with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. You can visit trails.colorado.gov to access the state’s COTREX map system, or download the app, to locate trail closures. (It may also be helpful to check local government websites for trail closures.
VOICES: 12 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17
Even the most experienced outdoor enthusiasts can become victims to
Douglas County became the latest local government in the Denver metro area to approve a policy that regulates short-term rentals — short stays at a property booked through sites like Airbnb or Vrbo — allowing the rentals only in certain parts of the county. Douglas County Commissioner George Teal, who supported the policy, said he heard from a household that lives on a fixed income who wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to offer a short-term rental. They want to “augment an already limited income as they go into their twilight years,” Teal said at the July 11 commissioners meeting. The new ordinance requires owners to apply for licenses to operate homes as short-term rental properties. The ordinance defines a short‐term rental as lasting less than 30 consecutive days. It applies to unincorporated parts of Douglas County — areas outside of municipalities. Douglas County hasn’t had a general prohibition on short-term rentals for at least the past 20 years, but there were only a few small areas where they were explicitly allowed, according to county staff. As of early 2020, Castle Pines and Parker prohibit short-term rentals, Colorado Community Media reported at the time. After “substantial community engagement,” in February this year, Lone Tree City Council approved two ordinances to prohibit the creation of new short-term rentals and regulate existing ones, the city’s website says.
SEE TRAILS, P10
SEE RENTALS, P8
PHOTO VIA COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE
For instance, Castle Rock and Jefferson County list closures at tinyurl. com/CastleRockTrails and tinyurl. com/JeffcoParksTrails.) Trail users should also be mindful of erosion, the natural process by which rock and soil are worn away by wind, water and traffic. “Left unchecked, erosion can destroy trails and damage the environment,” Duncan said. “Trail erosion is accelerated by a combination of trail users, gravity and water.” When walkers and runners encounter standing water on a trail, recommendations can vary. “Every situation is different,” Duncan said. “In many instances, we’d prefer folks not hike when conditions are bad on a given trail. In most cases, going through the water is the best option and will prevent further erosion to the trail.” Staying safe in water
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