07/22/2026
Over the last 10 days, we have lost two people on the mighty Columbia river out here in the Columbia River Gorge and a young man yesterday on Blue Lake. One was at Chinook Landing while fishing the other was at rooster rock. I know these sound strict, but these are things that will keep you alive! I pray for the families that lost their loved ones .
CRITICAL SAFETY ALERT: COLUMBIA RIVER CONDITIONS ⚠️
The Columbia River is a powerful, high-risk natural waterway. Conditions change rapidly. Lack of preparation can be fatal. Treat the river with respect and strictly adhere to these safety protocols:
These should be 🦺 ZERO-TOLERANCE SAFETY RULES
Mandatory Life Jackets: Every single individual must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Inflatable toys, noodles, and inner tubes fail instantly in river currents. 🦺
Mandatory Safety Whistle: You must carry a functional safety whistle attached to your person or life jacket. In high-wind or heavy-current situations, blowing a whistle is the only reliable way to signal for help over river noise. 🔊
Breakaway Leash Requirement: When stand-up paddleboarding, you must use a quick-release breakaway leash. Traditional ankle leashes can entangle in river obstacles and pin you underwater.
🛑Never Swim Alone: Use a mandatory safety spotter. Swimmers must have an experienced companion alongside them in a kayak or paddleboard to maintain visibility and ward off boat traffic. 👥
Absolute Sobriety: Alcohol and drugs severely impair reaction times and judgment. Never consume substances before or during water activities. 🚫🚨
IMMEDIATE PHYSICAL THREATS
Deceptive, Powerful Currents: Tides, weather, and dam releases create extreme underwater currents. Surface water may look calm while dangerous undertows pull below. 🌊
Immediate Drop-Offs: The riverbed drops into deep water abruptly near the shoreline. Shallow areas are brief and unstable.
📉Cold Water Shock: Deep water stays cold year-round. Sudden immersion can cause involuntary gasping, hyperventilation, and immediate loss of muscle control.
🥶Submerged Hazards: Heavy floating logs, shifting boulders, and sharp debris present constant collision risks beneath the surface.
🪵🦠 BIOLOGICAL & CHEMICAL HAZARDS E. Coli Contamination: Runoff and environmental changes trigger dangerous bacteria spikes.
Never swim without checking the current Columbia Riverkeeper Swim Guide.Toxic Cyanobacteria: Harmful blue-green algae blooms produce deadly toxins. Stay out of the water—and keep pets far away—if you see green, discolored, or murky water. 🟢Infection & Illness: Avoid swallowing river water entirely. Do not enter the water if you have open wounds, and rinse off thoroughly immediately after exiting. 🚿
Sadly yesterday evening, a devastating tragedy occurred right in our community. A 15-year-old boy drowned while swimming with his family at Blue Lake Regional Park in Fairview. My deepest condolences go out to his loved ones.First responders noted that this is sadly the third drowning in Multnomah County over the past 10 days. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office highlighted a critical detail: none of the individuals in these three recent drownings were wearing a life jacket.Blue Lake has free loaner life jacket stations precisely to prevent these heartbreaking situations. It can be so easy to underestimate natural bodies of water, especially when temperatures are hitting triple digits and we just want to cool off. But invisible hazards like sudden deep drop-offs and cold-water shock can incapacitate anyone in seconds.If you are visiting Blue Lake or any local waterways this summer, please use the free kiosks and put a life jacket on your kids, your teenagers, and yourself. No matter how good of a swimmer someone is, it is not worth the risk.Please share this to remind your friends and family. Let's make sure everyone comes home safely from the water.
As we live on Blue Lake, I can tell you I watch people try and swim this lake every day without lifejackets. I worry about it all the time sometimes even when I’m paddling I will stay by somebody to make sure they get across. The lake is deep!Even when there are contest here for swimmers there were spotters next to them in case somebody got a cramp or or got tired. Please please please put on your lifejackets! Stay over by the swimming area and don’t go in front of Boats especially without a lifejacket. They cannot see you. You are low in the water.
Please share this so people know this information!!!!
