Montana FWP Reminds Floaters to be Prepared for Changing River Conditions
OutdoorHub 05.22.12
Memorial Day weekend beckons and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks urges floaters and others planning to head out on western Montana rivers this spring to scout ahead and be prepared for changing conditions.
“Water levels are in flux this time of year, and even a few warm days can prompt enough runoff for the rivers to rise and conditions to change,” says Chet Crowser, FWP Region 2 River Recreation Manager. “Be sure to check water levels before you head out and keep scouting for new debris along the way.”
Crowser says that although the water hasn’t peaked as high as it does in some years, the rivers are still running cold, fast and carrying a lot of debris. Logs and other river debris are often hidden under the water’s surface and can overturn boats and trap gear and boaters beneath the water.
Boaters should not assume a river is the same as it was during a previous trip. What may be a debris-free stretch of river one day could have a dangerous log jam the next.
For those interested in looking at river level forecasts for this season, Crowser recommends checking the National Weather Service website, water.weather.gov, or the USGS site at waterdata.usgs.gov, for real time river flows. Apps that package this same information for ease of access are also available for download on your cell phone or other device.
FWP must sometimes close Fishing Access Sites when they are flooded by spring water levels. Sites will be marked and closures will be listed on the FWP website, fwp.mt.gov. Click “Restrictions, Closures and Reopenings,” and these choose “Fishing Access Sites.” But Crowser cautions that just because a FAS is open, it does not mean that the river it provides access to is safe. Know the risks, and be prepared for what to do in an emergency.
“Swift currents, cold water and hidden snags will make boating dangerous in the next few weeks and greatly increase the risk of drowning,” said Liz Lodman, FWP Boating Education Coordinator. “A boater’s best bet is sometimes to play it safe by waiting until after the spring high water.”
