WCSO says be safe on the water

For many, warm temperatures and sunshine means time on one of Idaho’s pristine lakes or clear-running rivers.

 Locally, floating the Weiser River, a 103-mile-long tributary of the Snake River, is a long-running summer tradition. People typically put in at the Galloway Dam and disembark at Mortimer’s Island in Weiser.

 Though fun and relaxation is the name of the game, local law enforcement also wants you to be safe.

 A few weeks ago, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office posted a warning on its Facebook page, alerting the public that high water levels had been creating potentially dangerous conditions on the Weiser River.

 Though it has since receded, a particularly hot day and some rain could cause remaining snowpacks to melt quickly and the river to rise again, which always presents a danger to those who access it. 

 “When it’s high, especially along the edges, if you have a lot of vegetation, it can be barely submerged, but you can’t see and it’s easy to get hung up,” said WCSO’s Jeff Anderson who was recently promoted to lieutenant and put in charge of the county’s waterways. 

 “When the water is low, a lot of that stuff is much easier to see,” he said. “In late summer, the water gets so low, you almost can’t float it anymore.”

 Boat safety laws are enforced by county sheriffs’ offices in Idaho.

 Last month Anderson completed Marine Law Enforcement Academy at Lucky Peak Reservoir. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation puts on the academy every year, providing training and resources for Idaho sheriff’s deputies and others responsible for patrolling Idaho’s waters.

 Anderson said that, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), water levels in the Weiser River, which are checked remotely near Presley Bridge, are decreasing.

 “It’s currently running at 6.07 feet and trending down,” he said on Monday. “If you have a gradual warmup, historically it trends down. We are currently getting into some good floating depths right now.”

 Regardless of the river’s depth, or which body of water you choose to navigate, safety should always be at the forefront of recreationists’ thoughts.

 Anderson said the most important item is a personal floatation device. Last summer a kayaker drowned on the Snake River after his kayak flipped over. He was not wearing a life jacket.

 “Wear your life jacket; that’s a must,” he said. “That’s what is going to save your life; not just having it there with you, but actually wearing a well-fitting life jacket.”

 And it’s required by law and is applicable to any watercraft.

 In Idaho, children 14 and under must wear a life jacket while the vessel is underway. Those older than 14 must have a well-fitting life jacket within reach for every person on the vessel.

 Some of the dangers can include swift water and dangerous currents, debris and tree snags, cold water temperatures, and unstable riverbanks.

 In addition to a life jacket, people should remember that things like pool toys and inner tubes on the river can lead to death. Always use equipment designed for the river. Anderson said that people should raft sober and never go on the water alone.

 “Don’t go by yourself,” he said. “Take somebody with you.”