Major North Santiam River blockages pose hazard to boaters, tubers near Stayton, Jefferson
It could be a dangerous boating and floating season on the North Santiam River.
Downed trees have created one complete blockage in the river and two other major hazard points between Stayton and Jefferson.
There haven’t been many incidents so far this season due to cool and wet weather, but with the river running higher than normal, warm weather approaching and potentially good fishing on the way, officials are warning boaters about the hazardous locations as the summer float season gets underway.
“The amount of trees in the North Santiam has increased significantly this past year and there are a fair number of obstructions,” said Brian Paulsen, boating safety program manager for the Oregon State Marine Board. “With high and cold water, there’s a high risk for everyone.”
Many of the hazards come from numerous trees killed in the Labor Day Fires that have been washed downstream and gotten trapped in the braded areas of the river, particularly between Buell-Miller County Park boat ramp, Greens Bridge and Jefferson.
The logs can capsize boats and sweep people into "strainers," where strong current traps people against branches and limbs, sometimes leading to drowning.
All reported obstructions statewide, including the ones on the North Santiam, can be pinpointed on the Marine Board’s reported waterway obstruction dashboard.
Full blockage in the river from Buell-Miller to Greens Bridge
The worst spot is a complete blockage downstream of Stayton, between Buell-Miller County boat ramp and Greens Bridge outside Jefferson.
“It is solid wood bank to bank with strong current,” Paulsen said. “We are not recommending people attempt to navigate it. This log jam is immediately after a hard 90-degree bend in the river so sight distance for boaters to make substantial action in course correction to river left to attempt portage is very limited.”
Paulsen added that even after the log jam, there were additional wood “strainers” that the current pushes boats directly into.
Paulsen said warning signs will be placed at Buell-Miller and at the Stayton boat ramps. He said the float from Stayton to Buell-Miller was clean, but that anyone in a boat should get out before floating downstream of Buell-Miller.
Additional blockages between Greens Bridge and Jefferson
In the stretch of river between Greens Bridge and Jefferson, there are two additional hazardous spots that could entangle boaters or inner tubers, just upstream of the river’s confluence with the South Santiam River.
It’s an area that has seen major issues in the past, with upward of 20 rescues needing to be carried out in the summer of 2020.
The first obstruction is about halfway between Greens Bridge and the confluence, and includes “multiple trees in the water and strong current,” the hazard map shows.
Another hazard is slightly downstream, just above the confluence, where multiple root wads could trap inner tubers especially.
Can the obstructions be taken out?
At this point, the Oregon State Marine Board is not planning to remove the hazards. It’s an expensive process and log jams are important habitat for endangered salmon and steelhead in the river.
“We know people are going to want to get on the water soon, but it’s very important that they’re prepared and informed about these hazards,” Paulsen said.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal. 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.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: North Santiam River blockages pose major hazard to boaters
