A bad situation has continued to get worse on a popular stretch of the North Santiam River between Greens Bridge and Jefferson, just upstream from the confluence with the South Santiam.
Sixteen people have needed rescue after being swept through log jams amid swift water, with many being transported to the hospital and narrowly escaping drowning, according to the Jefferson Fire District Swift Water Rescue.
"We are asking that all rafters and people using inflatables avoid floating the river at this time," Jefferson Fire District officials wrote in one of the many warnings they've issued on Facebook. "The water is extremely dangerous and not suitable for floating."
Linn County and the Oregon State Marine Board are assessing the log jams Wednesday, to determine which areas rise to the level of an "extraordinary hazard" that could be removed — a complex process that takes into account fish habitat, access to the river and cost.
Based on those recommendations, the Marine Board may consider funding log removal, said Randy Henry, boating safety program manager.
"It's a very complex process," Henry said of removing debris from the river.
The area has long been a popular, and sometimes dangerous area, for inner tubes, but this year has brought unique problems.
The river is flowing much higher than in a normal year, due to the wettest June since 2012, which has led to reservoirs such as Detroit Lake dumping more water than normal into the river.
That means inner tubers have far less time to react or stand up before getting swept into downed trees.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter, photographer and videographer in Oregon for 12 years. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal.
A second problem is that there are new hazard areas filled with downed trees known as "strainers" — because water goes through, but people often don't, getting trapped and often drowning.
The first danger area is in a new channel, about halfway between Greens Bridge and the confluence of the North and South Santiam rivers.
"The water has created a new channel on the right side of the river, and people are getting sucked into that new channel that is filled with a bunch of root wads and strainers," Jefferson Fire division chief Louis Gisler said. "We've had some very close calls there and people have been very luck to get washed through."
The second dangerous area is just upstream of the confluence. It has often had downed trees on the river previously, but recently at least two large trees have fallen into the river while the river carves new channels, creating more danger.
"The majority of people are not wearing life jackets," said Gisler, who said he is trying to get signs posted at the put-in for Greens Bridge. "There has also been a gentlemen out there in a private boat warning people, even putting up his own signs about the danger, telling people to get out and walk around, and people are not listening, so that's been frustrating."
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The Marine Board said they're installing multiple signs warning people about the danger at Greens Bridge.
The danger may go down as the water level slowly drops, but even then, the stretch of river will be hazardous.
"Paddlers and floaters should never expect any river to be free of obstructions and hazards," Henry said. "If they don’t have the skill, capability and equipment to navigate and scout the waterway, they shouldn’t be there."
This story will be updated and expanded upon.
Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.
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Danger on Santiam: 16 rescued from log-filled river between Greens Bridge and Jefferson - Statesman Journal
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