SPORTS

Check before you go: Jacks Fork, Current might be closed due to flooding

Wes Johnson
WJOHNSON@NEWS-LEADER.COM

Park rangers are keeping a watchful eye on the Current and Jacks Fork river levels and might close portions of them to paddlers over the busy Memorial Day weekend.

Much of southwest and central Missouri has received heavy downpours, with more rain in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.

Check with park rangers or outfitters before heading out on potentially flooded rivers over the memorial Day weekend.

If flooding occurs, the rivers could be closed, according to Ozark National Scenic Riverways spokeswoman Dena Matteson. She urged paddlers to check the ONSR Facebook page and website for frequent updates.

"Our river does get closed to floating when it rises above the flood levels that have been designated for each gauge," Matteson said Wednesday in an email. "Today, the Current is closed from Pulltite to Gooseneck because of the rain we had yesterday. If we continue to get rain, it's entirely possible the lower Current River (and possibly additional sections) could be closed as we head into Memorial Day weekend."

Matteson said it's difficult to predict several days in advance whether rivers will reach flood stage. Although both rivers are fed by large springs, they also can rise very quickly if a storm dumps a lot of rain in the watershed areas that drain into both rivers.

A paddler on the Jacks Fork River, part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

"The rangers make those decisions each morning, and rely heavily on the river gauges that can be found at the link below," she said. "You'll see for each gauge that there is a flood level listed, and then when you check the actual gauge reading you can determine if we're currently above or below that flood level. So, it's difficult to predict even a couple days in advance."

The river gauges can be found at  https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/levels.htm.

Other rivers in central and southwest Missouri also have been on the rise. If you are planning a float trip this weekend, it would be wise to check ahead of time with river outfitters in the area you want to float. The Missouri Canoe & Floaters Association maintains a list of most paddling outfitters in southwest and central Missouri at www.missouricanoe.org.

The Buffalo National River in north-central Arkansas also received significant rainfall in recent days, and the river level has risen fast in several popular paddling areas.

At the Ponca low-water bridge, for example, the river rose from 2 feet on the river gauge Tuesday to above 8 feet Wednesday afternoon in less than 24 hours. That level puts the river at flood stage at that location.

Buffalo River Geoscience provides real-time river levels at several key points on the Buffalo, along with an excellent interpretation of what the river levels mean for paddlers.

Army Corps lakes

Heavy rainfall also may have washed debris into the major Army Corps lakes, which typically draw big numbers of boaters over the Memorial Day weekend.

To prevent accidents, boaters should keep a sharp watch for floating or partially submerged logs and debris.

Park rangers also remind boaters and swimmers to wear life jackets. A high number of people who drowned at Corps lake or river projects didn't wear a life jacket. Life jackets save lives by keeping you afloat and providing time for rescue.

The Corps notes most people who drown never intended to be in the water; they unexpectedly fell from a boat or dock. When this happens, a person will reflexively gasp and can inhale up to one liter of water and drown in less than a minute.

Swim at a designated swim beach. These areas have been inspected to provide a safe swimming environment.  At all Corps of Engineers beaches, you swim at your own risk, so adults please watch your children, because most people drown within 10 feet of safety.

Many shorelines at Corps lake and rivers have drop-offs and people can suddenly be in water over their heads instantly or pulled under by river currents.

Free life jacket loaner stations are located at some parks on Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Clearwater, Greers Ferry, Nimrod, Blue Mountain, Millwood, Dierks, DeQueen, Greeson, Degray, Ouachita and Gillham lakes.

Don't get shocked while swimming

With Memorial Day weekend ushering in the unofficial start of summer, the Energy Education Council reminds swimmers that stray electric current around docks or boats can be lethal.

Following a number of electric-shock deaths at Lake of the Ozarks in recent years, the council is trying to spread the message, “If you feel a shock, swim away from the dock."

“If electric current is present in fresh water and someone swims into that energized water, the result can be electric shock drowning," said  Molly Hall, executive director of the Energy Education Council and its Safe Electricity program. "If the electrical current is strong enough, the electric shock can cause muscle paralysis, which leaves the affected individual unable to swim to safety. It’s a particularly dangerous hazard because it’s impossible to tell by sight if the water is energized.

“That’s why it’s so important to know what to do if a swimmer feels anything akin to electric current, such as tingling on the skin or a pulsing sensation in the water," she said. "They must swim away from anything that could be energized, like a dock with electrical service, or a boat that’s plugged into shore power. If possible, swim to the shore instead.”