Mayor Bans Activities On Portneuf River

Mayor Bruce Hansen banned all recreational water activities on the Portneuf River after a Pocatello teen drowned during the weekend.

Hansen said tubing or swimming would not be allowed within the Lava Hot Springs city limits until water levels recede, and that might not be until July.

Yumiko Barrett, 18, drowned near the Tumbling Waters Inn while floating the river on Sunday. The melting heavy mountain snowpack made rapids swifter and much more treacherous than normal.