Jerry Whaley Obituary – Garfield County Coroner Robert Glassmire has disclosed the identity of the individual whose body was discovered beneath a spillway on Bear River near Bear Lake Campground on Sunday evening.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, Glassmire identified the deceased as Jerry Whaley, a 46-year-old resident of Elbert. The investigation into his death is currently being treated as an accident.
Glassmire expressed his condolences to Mr. Whaley’s family on behalf of the Garfield County Coroner’s Office. He also expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by various organizations and individuals, including the Routt County Search and Rescue, Yampa Fire Protection District, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Routt County Sheriff’s Office, and members of the public who offered their help.
According to the coroner’s office, they received a call on Sunday just after 1 p.m. reporting that a man had gone over the spillway at Bear Lake reservoir and was later found deceased downstream.
Witnesses stated that the decedent was on a personal pontoon boat and was carried towards the spillway by increasingly strong wind gusts. It was noted that Mr. Whaley was not wearing a personal flotation device or a helmet.
Bear Lake is located 11 miles west of Yampa in eastern Garfield County. Access to the area is through Routt County Road 7, which becomes Forest Service Road 900. Cell phone service in the area is limited.
Although the incident occurred in Garfield County, the Routt County Sheriff’s Office responded due to a pre-existing agreement, as it is quicker to reach the area from South Routt.
Bear Lake is one of three interconnected reservoirs in the vicinity and is supplied by the Stillwater Reservoir.
The spillway, which lacks any barriers, leads to Bear River, which in turn connects to Yamcolo Reservoir. While Colorado Parks and Wildlife owns and operates the water and spillway on Bear Lake, the land surrounding the lake is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
A spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife stated that the agency is responsible for the ownership and operation of 120 dams and spillways.
