Garfield County says there is an immediate concern for citizen safety on the river.

"We have noticed that people do not have the fear of the water when it is a lower water level, when the water is slower,” Tanny McGinnis, with the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, said. “The reality is it’s just as dangerous."

Garfield County Search and Rescue has been extremely busy.

"We’ve had multiple drownings along the Colorado River this year," McGinnis said.

Two of those deaths were within the last week.

Wednesday afternoon, a man fell of his paddleboard and didn't resurface.

"The bystanders pulled him from the water and unfortunately he didn't make it," McGinnis explained.

That same day, the body of a local middle school student was recovered.

Neither drowning victim was wearing a life vest.

"Both those accidents were survivable," McGinnis said.

It’s an unfortunate trend that authorities say is growing.

"Regardless of how fast the water is moving, water is dangerous if you don't have on a personal floatation device," McGinnis said.

Authorities are making it their top priority to get people wearing life vests.

"Sometimes we just try to make a quick trip to the river and play but don't go without all the equipment that you need," McGinnis said.