River Hazard - DAM at Quincy - GM River Mile 140.8

Difficult portage right and left. 

Personal Flotation Devices/ Life Jacket

More than 80 percent of all boating fatalities occur because the person wasn’t wearing a life vest. Many people think a personal flotation device (PFD) or life vest says “nonswimmer,” but the truth is no boating expert would be without one. And PFDs have come a long way since the bright orange, uncomfortable life jackets of the past. From inflatable PFDs worn around the waist – that open only if they hit water – to lightweight life vests, everyone can find a comfortable PFD to insure a safe trip.

Low Dams and Waterfalls

Low dams – like natural waterfalls – are deceptively calm and can be incredibly dangerous. Low dams may range from a 25-foot drop-off to a mere 6-inch drop off. Water flowing over the dam forms currents that can trap objects (and you). Backwash and re-circulating current can trap you back against the dam then underwater before you are pushed along the bottom only to be sucked back to the dam as you rise to the surface. This circulating motion repeats over and over again. The backwash currents may even suck you in if you approach too closely from downstream of the dam.

Low Dam Safety Tips

• Know the location of all low dams and waterfalls on the river that you plan to boat.
• NEVER attempt to boat over a dam or waterfall.
• Portage (carry) your boat around a low dam and launch a safe distance, well downstream of the backwash of the low dam.
• Scout the river and know the location of hazards. Talk with boaters who are familiar with the river to gain additional knowledge.
• Boat with experienced, responsible boaters and learn from them.
• Watch for a smooth line connecting the banks. This may be the top of a low dam.
• Listen for the splashing sounds of turbulence and the dangerous currents at dams.
• Look for concrete retaining walls, which some dams have at each bank, making the dams easier to spot.

It is nearly impossible to escape the force of a low dam’s currents. Unless you are trained in low dam rescues, never enter the water in an attempt to rescue someone trapped by a low dam. Immediately call for help, then throw a line from shore to the trapped person. Untrained rescuers should never approach the top of the dam or the backwash below the dam, even in a boat. The turbulence at the dam will easily capsize a boat. Low dams can be deadly and should always be avoided.

MCD Dams

The Miami Conservancy District operates and maintains five large flood-protection dams (not low dams), in the Great Miami River Watershed. These dams hold back water only when river levels are too high to pass through the large concrete tubes (conduits) that pass through the dams. Do not attempt to boat through the dam’s conduits. Underwater portions of the dam create unpredictable currents and turbulence, which can be extremely dangerous. Plan to start your river trip downstream from these dams or end your trip upstream from these dams.