Following the report of a kayaking fatality on the Skunk River this past weekend, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is urging all paddlers to stay safe over the holiday. Some Iowa streams are still swollen and swift after the heavy spring rains. Yet others have dropped below safe levels for paddlers. “High rivers are super powerful and have unpredictable currents along with numerous deadly river hazards,” says Todd Robertson, paddling instructor and Outreach Coordinator for Rivers Programs at the Iowa DNR. “Piles of trees and branches can suck a paddler in and under with little chance of escape.” Some simple safety tips can help everyone stay safe while out on the State’s waterways. Always wear a life jacket. Children under 12 must wear one at all times on a recreational vessel, and it is also Iowa law that those 13 and over who are not wearing a life jacket must still have one on board their vessel. Tell a friend or loved one where you plan on kayaking or canoeing, including details about which access you will be getting on the water at and at which one you plan to get off. Know river conditions before heading out. These can be found through the link included here or by calling the local conservation office near where the river flows. You can also check the DNR’s interactive paddler map for updates and real-time hazards like downed trees, log jams, strainers and bridge construction. A link to that can also be found below.
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USGS Iowa streamflow readings: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/current/?type=flow&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
DNR interactive paddler map: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Things-to-Do/Canoeing-Kayaking/Where-to-Paddle