With Iowa streams swollen and swift with the heavy rainfall over the past week, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is urging paddlers to avoid the rivers for now and stick to lakes and ponds.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
“We encourage all paddlers, especially new and inexperienced paddlers, to stay on lakes and flat-water while the rivers are high due to heavy rain,” said Todd Robertson, paddling instructor and Outreach Coordinator for Rivers Programs at the Iowa DNR.
Some rivers are already dangerously high and stand to rise higher with more rain forecast through this week. The Iowa DNR has received reports of inexperienced paddlers on the Des Moines River who tipped over their boats in the strong current and were rescued by other boaters.
“We’ve rescued five paddlers since May 1 on the Des Moines River during high-water conditions,” said Terry Nittler of the Des Moines Power Boat Club. Nittler estimated about 90 percent of the paddlers he sees on high water have little or no experience, and many are not wearing life jackets.
“Swollen rivers are super powerful and have an unpredictable current along with tons of wood debris coming downstream to form deadly ‘strainers,'” said the DNR’s Robertson. He said even experienced paddlers should stay off of rain swollen rivers.
“If you get into a situation where you are struggling and fighting the current, the river will win,” he said, adding that boaters should always know a river’s condition before they go paddling.
For the latest river conditions, visit the U.S. Geological Survey website or contact your local county conservation board for updates.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
