ENJOY:
Safety Tips
Canoeing, Kayaking and Boating
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- Learn the route in advance, including potential hazards.
- Portage around dams.
- Take a paddling/boating class before going on the water. Learn the essential canoeing/kayaking strokes to effectively steer the vessel.
- Avoid situations that are beyond your ability. Be honest with yourself and return back to shore.
- Dress appropriately.
- Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.
- Clothing layers are a great answer to changing temperatures.
- Bring plenty of drinking water and snacks.
- Do not stand up in a canoe or kayak.
- Avoid weight shifts that may cause capsizing.
- Keep vessels a safe distance apart.
- Have a safety plan:
- Carry a cell phone in a waterproof case.
- Carry a spare paddle.
- Bring a whistle or sound signaling device.
- If you fall in, point your feet downstream and towards the surface and swim to shore.
- Bring a pump and sponge.
- Before going on the water, tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
- Be sure your vessel is in safe working condition.
- Never paddle/boat over a low-head dam, fallen tree, or other in-stream obstruction.
- Watch for angler lines in the river.
- Watch for boaters on the river.
Winter Safety
It not recommended to use the river itself within city limits in the winter as ice conditions vary greatly from bank to bank. In addition, dams, bridges, and storm water outfalls create unsafe ice conditions as well. Instead, use the banks of the Red River for recreation.
Fishing
- Know where your fishing hooks are flying.
- Pick up all fish hooks and fishing lines so other people/animals don’t get hurt.
Riverfront Users
- Always watch children in and around water as they can quickly enter the water or get in trouble when your attention is diverted, if only for a second.
- Be cautious around muddy riverbanks and slippery rocky areas.
- Do not fall asleep on the edge of the riverbank.
Dams
- All eight dams on the U.S. portion of the Red River have been retrofitted with a five percent slope rock rapid that has eliminated the undertow and allowed upstream fish migration. Be cautious and use portages when available.
- Watercraft should stay at least 300 feet away from the dams.
- Individuals along banks of the river should stay at least 10 feet away.
Always Remember
- Stay sober. Never recreate while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Children and adults should always wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD)/life jacket.
- Adjust the PFD so that is is snug and comfortable. It should not lift up when pulled by the shoulders.
- Don’t assume you have the swimming skills to keep you afloat, even the strongest swimmers can drown.
- Know the river conditions such as flow and water temperature.
- Know the weather conditions paying special attention to sunset, lightening, etc. Prepare for worse case scenarios.
- Take lessons to learn how to swim.
- Go with a buddy.
- Bring a first aid kit.
- Don’t go into the water to rescue someone else, call 9-1-1, throw something to the person in the water to help them float or reach out with a pole or branch and keep a firm grip.
- Be respectful of all water bodies.