05/15/2023
Public announcement from Grand County Sheriff Department Serch and Rescue:
Rivers and streams in Grand County and across Utah are on the rise. Water flows in the Colorado River and some tributaries have already surpassed the peak flows of the past several years and are expected to rise even more in the next few weeks.
In the past week, Grand County Sheriff's Search and Rescue responded to three incidents on the Colorado River. On Friday, May 5, a person in an inflatable kayak was caught in an eddy near New Rapid and lost his boat. He was in the water for about 20 minutes before being rescued by passing boaters. A few members of GCSAR were on a scheduled river training and retrieved the man’s kayak about a mile downstream and then helped reunite the man with the rest of his party. The next evening, GCSAR rescued a group who floated down the river in innertubes and missed their takeout at the Moab Boat Ramp due to fast flowing water. They ended up clinging to trees a few hundred feet downstream until they could be rescued. They were treated for mild hypothermia by Grand County EMS.
A rafter flipped in Westwater Canyon’s Skull Rapid and lost his boat Saturday, May 13. He was last seen by his companions around 2 p.m. They recovered the raft and floated to the Cisco Boat Ramp, looking for the missing person. The 911 call was delayed due to lack of cell service in the canyon. Boats and crew from the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation and GCSAR responded. The subject was located by Classic Air Medical but the helicopter was unable to land at his location. He was evacuated by boat at about 11 p.m. Employees from the Bureau of Land Management - Utah, Grand County EMS, and Grand County Sheriff's Office also responded. A helicopter from Utah Department of Public Safety was en route, but was turned around once the subject was secured.
We’d like to remind everyone to be extremely cautious around the river this year, whether boating or just swimming near the shore. While most of the river incidents to which we respond involve boaters, the majority of drownings in the past few decades have involved recreational swimmers. Here are several tips and reminders to help keep you safe:
- Be very careful if swimming from any rivers' beaches. Keep a close eye on children and make sure they are wearing Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) when near the water. There is a phenomenon along some of the riverbanks called helical flow. This spiral water flow may not be apparent from the deceptively calm surface. It can sweep a person off their feet, push them into the main current, and make swimming back to shore difficult.
- PFDs are required by law on certain river sections, including the Moab Daily. PFDs should be Coast Guard approved TYPE I, III, or V.
- Attempting to swim across the river is not recommended. People have died trying to swim across even calm stretches of the Colorado River near Moab. GCSAR has been called several times to rescue someone who swam across the river and was unable to make it back.
- High water levels cause water to flow through trees and plants along the shore. This can create dangerous entanglements and strainers.
- Stay alert to changing conditions. At current water levels, rapids, eddies, and other hydraulics are vastly different than they have been during the low flows of the past few years.
- Faster flows can make it more difficult to catch eddies and boat ramps, and can also make it more difficult to exit from an eddy. Know where you’re going, and make your moves early. GCSAR has been called in the past to rescue people who became trapped in some of the very strong eddies that develop at high water along the Moab Daily. Know how to exit an eddy before you get trapped in one.
- Make sure everyone in your group knows how to self-rescue in case a boat flips.
- Rising water means more debris and driftwood. It’s not unusual to see entire trees coming down the river. Debris can be sharp. Pool floats and innertubes are not advised.
- Don’t underestimate the power of the water anywhere along the Green or Colorado Rivers, even in seemingly calm sections.
- If you are planning a Cataract or Westwater Canyon trip, be realistic. Does every member of your trip have the right gear, training, experience and stamina for potentially long and rough swims in cold water?
- The water is cold! Expect swims to be long and dress for the swim. Wear splash gear, a dry suit, or a wetsuit. Pack warm, dry gear, even when the air is warm, to help you recover after a swim.
- Trails near the river may become impassable as low-lying areas flood. If camping near the river, be aware that water levels can change overnight.
- Your best chance for a quick rescue comes from others in your party or passing boaters.
