| OSMB News |
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| Navigation Hazard Downstream of Green's Bridge Cleared |
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For Immediate Release -6/15/09
On June 11, 2009 a serious navigation hazard was cleared on the North Santiam River approximately three miles downstream from Green’s Bridge near Jefferson.
Through a cooperative effort between Marion and Benton County Marine Patrol Deputies, Corvallis Fire Department and civilian volunteers, a large snag and log from several fallen trees was cut away to allow for clear passage by float and motorized boating traffic.
Memorial Day Weekend proved to be busy for Jefferson Fire and Rescue, who helped save almost a dozen boaters. Everything from inner tubes to canoes succumbed to the powerful, swift river and collided with the debris, leaving people either stranded or clinging to the fallen trees. Last week the water level dropped enough to allow officials safe access to cut the snag and the numerous logs that had built up across the navigable channel. Jefferson Fire and Rescue reported that two places on the river considered the most dangerous are at the confluence of the North and South Santiam rivers, and those upstream where the North Santiam bends. Most of the people who were rescued were between 16 and 26 years old and were not wearing life jackets.
Law enforcement and rescue personnel stress the importance of scouting ahead and always look before entering a river bend. “It’s difficult to maneuver in an inflatable raft, so beach yourself on a gravel bar if you can, before going around a bend, says Dale Flowers, Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Marine Board. “The rivers are constantly changing. One week the water may be high and the next week it’s shallow. This is where experience is so important when running a river,” Flowers adds.
Law enforcement returned to the location over the weekend and reported a new hazard that exists downstream of the previous hazard, on the main stem of the North Santiam. A new, very large tree has fallen and almost completely covers the navigable channel. Volunteers from the Northwest Steelheaders are assessing the obstruction and will determine if it can be mitigated.
The Marine Board would like to remind people who recreate on any of Oregon’s rivers to wear a properly fitting life jacket and leave the alcohol on shore. Most rivers are fed by snow melt and remain cold well into summer. It is expected that water levels will not fluctuate much throughout the summer. Because the water is swift and there are many hazards below the surface, it’s critical to have sharp reaction times, clear vision, and not have your judgment impaired by alcohol.
So remember to boat safe, boat sober and always wear your life jacket.
For more information about navigation hazards, visit www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/safety/navigation_hazards.shtml.
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