PLATTSBURGH -- Officials are warning residents that area waters are still too cold and dangerous for recreation after two kayakers capsized in Lake Champlain.

Plattsburgh City Police said the two men were drunk when they paddled into the lake late Tuesday night.

A Naked Turtle employee spotted two people venturing into the lake around 11:30 p.m. and contacted City Police.

While officers were interviewing the employee, they heard the men in distress.

Police found the two capsized kayakers -- Chad Latour, 23, and Daniel Gonyea, 23, both of Plattsburgh -- near the shore.

The officers were able to get the men to the road and covered one of them with an emergency blanket as City EMS arrived and took them to CVPH Medical Center, where they were evaluated and released.

Police said the men parked their vehicle at the Old Base marina earlier in the day and paddled their kayaks to the Naked Turtle.

A few hours later, they decided to paddle back. Police said their kayaks capsized near the start of their quarter-mile trip.

The emergency prompted local officials to remind people that area waters are still too cold and dangerous for recreation.

City Police said the temperature heightens danger, especially for inexperienced, unprepared or impaired boaters.

Clinton County Sheriff David Favro said the stronger currents and presence of springtime debris add to the risk.

Earlier this week, when Lake Champlain was about 40 degrees, Favro spotted residents heading into the water for an afternoon of tubing, which, he says, should be avoided for another couple of weeks.

He said people can easily fall in and face a real possibility of drowning.

"In a matter of minutes, people can get hypothermic and die. And we don't need those kinds of senseless tragedies in Clinton County."

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com