Nevada City, CA – Every year, first responders receive several calls for service for visitors who have an accident at the South Yuba River due to slips and falls. Swift water rescues are performed many times through the summer months due to unsafe river conditions.
“Our Yuba River is majestic, but she’s also unforgiving and it only takes an instant to lose a life,” said District 4 Supervisor Sue Hoek, who chairs the South Yuba River Public Safety Cohort, a group that focuses on safety in the South Yuba River corridor, with District 1 Supervisor Heidi Hall.
This year, high water flows have already taken one life. “Tragic and fatal accidents happen at the river every year, and this year, water flows are even more unregulated with the water flowing from Spaulding dam,” added Nevada County Consolidated Fire District Operations Chief Pat Sullivan. “In an area where you could be standing on a rock high and dry in the morning, you could be knee-deep in cold and dangerous fast-flowing water in the afternoon.”
Nevada County Consolidated Fire District conducted a river rescue training earlier this month, simulating a patient recovery in the South Yuba River canyon.
Stay Alert, Stay Out, Stay Alive
Instead of swimming in dangerous river conditions, residents and visitors are encouraged to swim, paddle, or boat at Nevada County’s beautiful recreational lakes, explore area trails and shop or dine locally. Find ideas on Nevada County events, activities, and your next adventure at www.GoNevadaCounty.com.
If you’re recreating along the South Yuba River, remember that you are in a remote location with minimal to no cell phone service, with fifteen-to-forty-five-minute response times. Emergency call boxes are available at Bridgeport, Purdon, Edwards, Maybert Road and Highway 49 river crossings. Please also obey parking signage and only park in designated areas, so emergency response vehicles can access the remote areas and narrow roadways if needing to respond to an accident.
Volunteer as a Yuba River Ambassador
From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) River Ambassadors are volunteers taking action to motivate and educate the community to care for the South Yuba River. Due to fast currents and cold-water temperatures, educating the public on safe recreation at the river is even more important than ever. River Ambassador volunteers act as a first line of defense in helping avoid river-related tragedies.
Learn more about volunteering on SYRCL’s website at www.YubaRiver.org.
About the South Yuba River Public Safety Cohort
The Cohort is a multi-agency working group of federal, state, local and community stakeholders coordinating public safety and law enforcement in the South Yuba River corridor of Nevada County which experiences approximately 800,000 visitors annually. Organizations and agencies include the County of Nevada, California State Parks, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service Tahoe National Forest, CAL FIRE, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, South Yuba River Citizens League, Sierra Gold Parks Foundation, Bear Yuba Land Trust and more.
Learn more at www.NevadaCountyCA.gov/SouthYubaSafety.