Log In


Reset Password
News Education Local News Nation & World New Mexico

Waterfall debris injures Telluride woman

Rivers swell with snowmelt, boating season begins
Rescuers carry out a woman injured by waterfall debris Sunday near Telluride.

Snowmelt is quickly filling creeks and rivers – and waterfalls.

On Sunday, a woman was critically injured at Cornet Falls outside Telluride after debris from the 80-foot waterfall hit her in the head.

Rescuers from Telluride EMS, San Miguel Search and Rescue, and volunteer firefighters responded to the incident on the Cornet Falls Trail.

The woman was stabilized and carried out on a litter, then was taken to Telluride Medical Center.

“Be safe around cliffs and waterfalls during runoff, as falling debris including rocks and ice are likely,” San Miguel Rescue wrote in a Facebook post.

Boating season begins
A kayaker enjoys the beginning of the boating season on the Dolores River upstream of Dolores.
Officials warn people to stay clear of waterfalls, such as Cornet Falls near Telluride, during high runoff because of ice and rocks coming down.

Recent sunny, warm weather has accelerated snowmelt, ushering in the boating season.

On May 5, the Dolores River was running at 1,300 cubic feet per second, up from 350 cfs on April 28 in Dolores, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The San Juan River at the Four Corners was running at 2,000 cfs, and the Animas River in Durango was flowing at 2,000 cfs.

The Dolores River Boating Advocates has released recommendations for responsible boating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The recommendations include:

Don’t congregate at boat ramps or parking lots in violation of social-distancing rules. “Public officials have told us clearly that if there are too many people congregating at access points they may be forced to close them to the public,” according to the DRBA website.

Only run sections of rivers close to home and below your normal skill level. Rescue missions take resources away from public health emergency needs. Avoid high-risk and remote areas. Know public health orders and restrictions in areas you plan to boat. If local officials are asking non-residents to stay away, respect their request.



Reader Comments