This is going to make tubing the Nooksack River South Fork more difficult this summer
Tubers and boaters need to watch out for an impassable log jam on the South Fork of the Nooksack River, according to a warning notice from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
Tree trunks are piled on the river 2.75 miles downstream from the Acme put-in, creating a potentially dangerous obstacle for boats on the river. The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office shared the notice Monday, June 22.
The jam may be difficult to see so tubers and boaters are advised to exit the river on a west bank before reaching the logjam, according to the notice. From there, boaters can walk a short distance to avoid the jam and get back on the river.
The DNR will not attempt to remove the jam but is posting safety notices upstream of the jam and along popular put-in areas, said Ross Zimmerman, DNR aquatic land manager. The jam is likely to remain in place as long as water levels remain low during the summer months, he added.
The jam formed sometime in the spring during a high flow event and currently spans the entire river channel, Zimmerman said.
“It causes a safety hazard because it is a popular recreation spot for people floating down the river on tubes and rafts,” Zimmerman said.
There have been no incidents related to the logjam, said Deb Slater, community programs coordinator for the Whatcom Sheriff’s Office, in an email statement. Slater added there is usually more activity on the river starting in mid-July and the Sheriff’s Office is ready to respond to any incidents.
Problems with logjams often occur in the area, said National Weather Service Hydrologist Brent Bower. The South Fork of the Nooksack river is still chilly with temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. He added boaters and tubers should wear life vests and be wary of cold-water shock.
“Cold-water shock makes you want to gasp,” Bower said. “If your head is underwater you’re gasping in water and that’s a dangerous situation.”
The river forecast should remain level for the next 10 days, Bower said, although the river flow is a little higher than average at just under 900 cubic feet per second compared to an average of 600 cubic feet per second.
For more information or to report damaged safety signs contact the DNR at 360-708-7357.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
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