Here are a few safe boating tips and lessons from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team:
1. Boaters should be aware of any area where water quickly changes elevation. Places where water drops off are called low-head dams. These low-head dams create a current that draws water and debris back towards the dam. The current can easily trap a person, tossing them back and forth like a washing machine.
2. Watch for any horizontal line across the river as an indicator of a low-head dam. Exit the river well in advance of the hazard, and portage your boat around the problem area.
3. Low-head dams are a safety hazard in any type of flow, but are especially dangerous in the spring runoff.
4. The force of water increases as its volume increases. As water volume doubles, the force of the water quadruples. As it triples, the force is nine times stronger.
5. As the weather warms and more families venture outdoors for picnics, it is important to remember to keep a safe distance from the water’s edge and to warn children of the risks.
6. The spring is the wrong time to be in the river for four reasons:
– The water is very cold and can cause hypothermia. In addition the shock of such cold temperatures can cause people to black out almost instantaneously.
– The water is muddy, visibility is low and high run off can drag fence posts, shopping carts and other debris into the water to created hidden hazards called keepers or strainers. People can easily become entrapped by the pressure of the water pushing them up against a strainer.
– High flows result in very low clearance under bridges prohibiting boats from safely floating under.
– A river current always moves you to the center of the stream. Even if you intend on floating along the edge of the river, you will be quickly pulled to the center.
The Jordan River flows through a metropolitan center of over one million residents, and is a spectacular resource for the residents of the region. It is home to many types of waterfowl and is a unique recreational experience. The Jordan River Commission encourages the Salt Lake Region to work together to celebrate and promote safe enjoyment of this resource.
