A popular swimming hole in Capitol Reef National Park has been closed for the rest of the summer due to torrential runoff that has created extremely dangerous conditions for swimmers.
Fremont Falls, located about six miles east of the park's visitor center on Highway 24, has witnessed three-near fatalities already this summer, according to park officials. As a result, several area agencies, as well as the Capitol Reef superintendent and the Wayne County (Utah) sheriff, have deemed the falls and their pool too great of a risk to public safety to remain open to swimming.
Created in 1962 by diverting the Fremont River from its natural bed, the original Fremont Falls stretched out approximately 100 feet wide as a thin skiff of water flowing over an underlying sandstone rock formation.
But after decades of erosion caused by natural water action, the Fremont Falls of today channels rapidly through a markedly narrower crevice. As with many waterfalls, the sections immediately above and below the fall itself pose serious threats to swimmers due to the strength of the water's pull.
Three recent near drownings -- on June 20 and July 15 -- prompted the official closure of the falls. Two of the victims were children, and one an adult who jumped in to save one of the children. None of three was breathing, nor did they have a pulse, upon being removed from the water. They were flown to hospitals in northern Utah and, somehow, all three survived with no apparent lasting effects.
“While we certainly want to provide an enjoyable visitor experience in the park, our highest responsibility is to ensure a safe visitor experience," says Capitol Reef Superintendent Al Hendricks. "The three recent near-drownings make it clear that there are serious, life-threatening conditions present at the waterfall for even strong swimmers.”
The extended closure will be lifted when the weather is too cold for swimming. Looking down the road, park officials are looking to reroute the river back to its original streambed next year.
Comments
RangerLady - just curious as to why you don't have the authority, or why you even need the authority, to give out the dates of the accidents mentioned in your Comment.
Here's a second to Dottie's question - why does one need "authority" to give out dates of accidents in the park? I can understand not releasing names of those involved, but I don't see the harm in saying when they happened.
Yes, Matt and Dottie, transparency has taken a back seat across the board in this environment. The public message is pretty much all produced in ways that most of us haven't imagined. A wrong word can ruin a career.
Because I do not have the dates memorized, I would have to read files that I do not have the authority to access. After seeing no less than 4 accidents at that waterfall ever summer, it's a little hard to remember all the dates.
Opps...I was anon@9:33pm. I didn't notice I had been logged out.
And that's a simple and understandable real world answer, Ranger Lady. Sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists.
Rick B, how many times is policy changed with supportive PR wording masking ulterior motives to arrive at the "preferred alternative?" When one's seen it in action it's easy to affirm the paranoid's getting it right enough to question. There are many cases involving misconduct by Teflon Bureaucrats (It's all around us) that the odor does stick to many that are forthright and trapped in their positions. It's a challenging test of faith/character in today's environment. Kudos to those that endure.
I would like to tell you about swimming at the falls. This year on July 4, 2011 I went to the waterfall with four kids one 11,13, 14 and one 16 years old. We were there from 1:00 - 4:30. While we were there there were aout 40 - 50 people that came and went. They were jumping and swimming for about 2 hours when a ranger came. A ten year old boy jumped and the ranger said who is your dad and the boy looked at his dad. The ranger said come here I'm going to give you a ticket, the dad said your not going to give me a ticket. Ranger said yes I am. Finally the dad said how much is a ticket? The ranger said $75.00. The dad said I'll pay that it would cost me alot more than that to take my kids to a water park is Salt Lake. The ranger said well just don't jump any more. When he left we went rignt back to having fun like we have been having for fifty years.
Ranger lady you said many broken legs, arms and necks you still stand by that? I at least will tell you who I am. RangerLady
Just so you know the Fremont River is not were it was before man decided to move highway 24. Man moved the river and one of the good things we got out of that was a waterfall where we can go and have fun. The Fremont River doesn't have a heart, brain or feelings it doesn't care were you move it. but it will take over when it rains like it has this year that is why you see so much sand by the road that had to be graded off the road.
The park should put up signs that say DANGER, SWIM AT YUOUR OWN RISK, THE PARK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU ARE INJURED OR DIE!!! The park has never been responsible for anyone that is hurt in the park. Don't take away the most enjoyed spot in the park.
How many people have been hurt on hikes in the park? Way don't you mention that, Ranger Lady?