The man found dead in Boulder Reservoir this morning has been identified as Mark M. Heffron.
Boulder County Coroner Tom Faure said Heffron, 46, was a Boulder resident.
Police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley said the coroner’s office is awaiting toxicology results before determining a cause or manner of death, but foul play is not suspected.
Heffron was found at 6:27 a.m. near the boat house at Boulder Reservoir.
Huntley said the body was discovered by a University of Colorado rowing team coach, who notified maintenance personnel at the lake. The maintenance personnel called 911.
She said emergency responders were able to pull the body – which was submerged and face-down about four feet off a dock – onto the shore.
Fire personnel pronounced Heffron dead at the scene.
Huntley said Heffron was appropriately dressed for someone who planned to swim in the reservoir, although she declined to be more specific about what he was wearing.
Huntley said Heffron was reported missing to Boulder police on Tuesday, the day before he was found in the reservoir.
According to a recording at the reservoir office, the swimming area of the lake is currently closed to swimmers.
Alex Berlin, the coach of the CU rowing team, said there were about 50 CU athletes comprising several different CU rowing teams at the reservoir abut 5:45 a.m. Wednesday. He said most of the shells were not launched until about 6:20 a.m. because of windy conditions.
He said one group had broken off from the main body of rowers to retrieve a boat near a dock. That is when they spotted the body floating nearby, said Berlin.
Berlin said Heffron appeared to be in a wet suit.
Rowing at CU is a collegiate club sport sponsored by the athletes, their friends and boosters, said Berlin.
He said that most of the CU teams launched their shells but were kept away from the area where the body was found. He said only later were the athletes informed.
Huntley said Heffron appeared to have had no bullet or stab wounds although he had some “injuries” which she didn’t detail.
She said that initial indications are the body had been in the reservoir a day or two.
She said the Boulder Emergency Squad swept the lake with sonar equipment searching for any personal belongings of Heffron.
The reservoir is located at 5565 51st St. in northeast Boulder.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
