Low water level on Bow exposing hidden hazards
Posted Aug 14, 2016 10:24 pm.
Last Updated Aug 15, 2016 7:12 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A rubber raft is no match for rebar.
That’s the lesson a number of people learned over the weekend after their ride down the Bow River ended in punctured boats thanks to hidden debris.
Low water levels are also compounding the issue.
According to the Calgary Fire Department, the area where the incidents happened is just upstream from where the river passes under the Crowchild Trail Bridge.
Large amounts of rebar are protruding out of the water about four metres from shore near the island, very near to a standing wave on the north side in the main channel of the river.
Battalion Chief Fred Rogi says they were called to the area four times over Saturday and Sunday.
“The aquatics crews have found nine rafts that have been punctured during that time and we’ve had to assist some people to shore,” he explained. “Some of them went to the island.”
The Calgary Fire Department Aquatics Team has temporarily marked the hazardous location with caution tape until a more permanent solution is put in place in the near future.
“If you’re on the north side of the river the current will take you into this area where the rebar is so really just make sure you stay to the south,” suggests Rogi.
He also wants to remind all river users to always wear properly fitting life jackets or personal floatation devices and always SCOUT, ASSESS and DECIDE from shore before going on rivers, lakes and waterways.
1. Scout the river for potential hazards and check the weather and water conditions.
2. Assess the level of danger. Check for river advisories and assess the swimming and paddling skills of your crew.
3. Decide if it is safe to raft or boat
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