Raccoon River near Henderson Park in Jefferson

After some higher water levels on the Raccoon River from this past spring, those have since dropped down to a more manageable depth for individuals to enjoy water sporting activities.

Greene County Conservation Officer Aaron Arthur tells Raccoon Valley Radio that whenever the river levels are higher, kayakers and canoers need to be more watchful of areas that they could get stuck in, such as log jams and strainers. He also advises people to remember the rules and regulations concerning life jackets when on a moving vessel on the river.

“Anybody under the age of 13 is required to wear a life jacket on a boat that is moving. If you’re over the age of 13 there must be a life jacket in each boat. The thing that I’ve run into on the river is people will put the little square, type fours in there, more like a seat cushion, those do not count as a wearable life jacket.”   

Arthur suggests everyone wear their life jackets because when you are in a situation where a life jacket is needed, it is too late to put one on.