Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Stay safe on the river

Stay safe on the river

Jun 25, 2008 - 04:06:44 CDT

By JENNY MICHAEL
Bismarck Tribune

When the summer sun beats down on Bismarck, Mandan and other towns on the shores of the mighty Missouri River, the people in and around the communities get the urge to get in the water.

"Water attracts people in the summertime," said Nancy Boldt, the administrative and water safety coordinator for North Dakota Game and Fish.

Though the cool water can sound enchanting during the heat of summer, Boldt warns that the river can be cruel.

"I don't think people lots of times realize the power of the Missouri," she said.

The drowning death of Samuel Quainoo, who was last seen swimming in the river with friends, highlights the need to respect that power, Boldt said.

"Swimming in the river is never safe," she said.

Boldt pointed out that sandbars change daily. Water may be ankle deep in one step, 20 feet deep in the next. One wrong step can pull a person into the current.

"They think of the river as a lake," Boldt said.

She said high gas prices may be keeping people closer to home, and they may be heading to the nearby river rather than driving to area lakes. Lakes warm up faster than the river and rarely have a current.

"The river is always moving," she said.

Last weekend, Boldt saw people hanging onto logs and riding on inflatable mattresses, floating down the Missouri River. Even inflatable rafts shouldn't be out on the river, said Boldt.

"Your visibility and boaters' visibility of people on a raft is so limited," she said.

Despite signs posted on boat docks along the river, telling people the docks are for boats and not swimmers, it's not unusual to see people jumping from the docks into the water, Boldt said.

While young children often wear life jackets in the river, older children and adults don't always don the safety devices, she said.

"People need to respect the river a lot more than they do," she said.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

Bono wrote on Jun 26, 2008 10:56 AM:

" People are RUDE and inconsiderate on the river. They will fly past you going 60 mph on their cabin cruisers - soaking your boat - without even blinking an eye. It's like people out there have no brains and just do the most stupid stuff.

THINK while you are on the water. Be aware of what is around you. There are rules, when it says "NO WAKE" that means SLOW DOWN. "

love bismarck wrote on Jun 25, 2008 10:13 PM:

" this is to comment back on a previous post that was in Samuels article (wrong post to be having a debate)

from the postings there seem to be very irresponsible people out on the river. YES there definately does need to be more river regulation. Half the people out there dont know the rules of the river or that there ARE any. At this rate I will not be able to show my daughter the joys of the river in the summer time because of what it has turned into down there...Its just not what it used to be......I wish people would respect the river and its responsabilities. "

Bono wrote on Jun 25, 2008 6:15 PM:

" I've stated this elsewhere but will post it here too - teenagers are jumping off Mitzel's bridges in Lakewood Harbor. They are jumping 25' down into 6' deep water. Someone is going to get hurt.

I've called Mandan police and they don't even show up. The kids sat under the bridge smoking pot for at least an hour on Monday and the cops didn't care enough to show up. SAD. Pray to god nobody ends up dead or paralyzed.

Parents - if your kids are swimming in the river - find out exactly what they are doing before it's too late. "

to jh from fish wrote on Jun 25, 2008 4:49 PM:

" yea it is a big drop off head down there and take a look. "

jh wrote on Jun 25, 2008 4:20 PM:

" fish,

I guess I'm taking it literally. Ankle deep is about 4 inches. One step is about a foot and a half. That's one big underwater cliff to go from 4 inches straight down to 17 feet in a foot and a half.

Stay safe on the river. "

to jh from fish wrote on Jun 25, 2008 3:40 PM:

" a drop of too 17 ft from one can be found straight across the ramp from the file range into the main current.. trust me they are around. "

jh wrote on Jun 25, 2008 3:27 PM:

" I agree with everybody that there are steep drop offs, strong currents and that the river needs to be respected.

I took exception with ankle deep to 20 feet in one step. I've boated on the river for 30 years, walked a lot of sandbars and have never seen that sever of a drop off. "

river rat wrote on Jun 25, 2008 12:36 PM:

" I have experienced plenty of large drop offs in the river and right where the current is extremely powerful and swirling that could easily sweep a grown man out and down. Exercising caution and respect on the river is key to staying safe. "

to baby t from fish wrote on Jun 25, 2008 11:25 AM:

" I am on the river close to every day fishing and I can guarantee you there are pleny of 20 ft holes.. right off the edge of the desert is 15-20 ft deep. couple hundr yards down from fox island ramp is 20 ft deep keep dreaming if you think there are no 20 ft holes. i have even run into 30-35 ft holes "

BOATER wrote on Jun 25, 2008 11:23 AM:

" I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOULD NOT BE OPERATING A WATER CRAFT ON THIS RIVER, GO TO THE LAKE IF YOU WANT TO TUBE OR ACT STUPID. AS FAR AS THESE WAVE RUNNERS ARE CONCERED, THERE SHOULD BE A SPEED LIMIT FOR THOSE ON THE RIVER. THERE SHOULD BE A NO WAKE ZONE FROM THE NORTH BRIDGE AND EXPRESSWAY BRIDGE. "

BabyT wrote on Jun 25, 2008 10:11 AM:

" I spend at least 3 days a week on the river, and as jh mentioned, 20 foot deep water is RARE! In fact, I can think of only one place where I've seen 20, and you certainly wouldn't be swimming near that. (rocky shoreline) But... dropoffs can be sudden, and unless you are prepared for the current, it will take you away. By itself that isn't a problem, just swim to shore, but to someone inexperienced who will panic it is a disaster. "

Law wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:59 AM:

" Yes jh, there are spots in the river where it is shallow and then drops way off. I look for them all the time when I am fishing. Boat nose in the sand and 10 to 18 ft off the back. "

jh wrote on Jun 25, 2008 8:27 AM:

" I agree we need to promote a message of safe recreation on the river but we lose our credibility with statements that say one step is ankle deep and the other is 20 feet. I challenge anybody to confirm this claim anywhere on the river. You are lucky if you can find 20 foot water in the river and it certainly isn't one step away from ankle deep water.

Keep promoted safe river recreation, just leave out the outrageous claims. "

Water Guy wrote on Jun 25, 2008 5:51 AM:

" I'm a strong swimmer who grew up on the river. But I don't swim in the Missouri. Ever. Many much safer places to swim.

Very sad about this young man. "

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