Lake Pueblo Officials Address Safety Concerns

A Pueblo family is mourning its 16-year-old son after he drowned in Lake Pueblo Sunday afternoon.

This was the second drowning over the last ten days. The Pueblo County coroner identified the victim as Einn Brasher, 16.

The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife is still investigating the incident. Officials at Lake Pueblo say swimming in the lake is illegal. Several people said they didn?t know that.

Caitlyn Duda, 15, likes to spend warm summer days at Lake Pueblo.

KRDO NewsChannel 13 asked her if she has ever been swimming in the lake, and she said she has.

She said it is not just her and her sister. She said she has seen a lot of people swim in the lake and didn?t know it was prohibited.

Park Ranger Monique Mullis said it’s illegal for safety reasons.

“We do our best to get that message out,? said Mullis.

It was at Fisherman?s Cove where Brasher drowned Sunday afternoon. Just nine days earlier, Jake Clifton, 18, also drowned.

Mullis told KRDO NewsChannel 13 that they have a boat patrol and park rangers monitoring the lake. She also said there are “no swimming” signs.

“Can we put a sign out in every single access point to this 60 mile of shoreline? Unfortunately no, but we try to hit the areas as best we can,” said Mullis.

She wants to prevent any more fatalities.

“These two incidents are important to us, and we do want to address it and see if there is something we can do better,? said Mullis.

There is a $52.50 fine for swimming in the lake. Lake officials have handed out 88 citations this year.

There is a small portion of the lake where you are allowed to swim. It’s called Rock Canyon Swim Beach, and it has recently reopened.