Swollen Colorado rivers force rafters to seek calmer waters

DENVER (AP) — Rapidly melting snow and heavy spring rains are sending Colorado's rivers tumbling out of the mountains, so far claiming the lives of at least 11 people and forcing some whitewater rafting companies to seek out calmer rapids and stock extra safety gear.

Last year, 17 people died in boating accidents, including 14 on Colorado's rivers, after heavy late-season snow raised water levels, said Kris Wahlers, boating safety manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Costlow added that having so few deaths with so many people running the rapids amounts to "a hell of a record."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took the rare step of temporarily slowing releases from Chatfield Dam, which helps supply water to the metropolitan area, on Tuesday to lower the river's level and help searchers.

Wahlers and industry representatives say it's hard to explain why there have been more deaths in whitewater rafting, a sport that poses a variety of risks and where flirting with danger is part of the attraction.

Wiley Ledwith, part owner of Independent Whitewater in Salida, said a lot of rafting companies are busing people to sections of the popular Arkansas River in central Colorado that are more manageable.