Chicago Whitewater Association & Kayak Club

Low Head Dams

Every year, low head dams account for many deaths in the US. This video shows how to avoid such dams, and using a dam simulator shows how people and boats can get caught at the base of a dam courtesy of The Illinois Paddling Council

Press play to watch a small version, or cilck to view the full Low Head Dam Video.

Dam Safety

While the Yorkville Dam has now been taken down and replaced with the new Yorkville Whitewater Park (soon to be opened), we still need to pay attention to large dams as well as small low head dams. All are very dangerous and all people who recreate on rivers should be aware of general safety considerations and what actions should be taken in the case of an emergency. Note the report below regarding the most recent tragic deaths at Yorkville and please watch the video from IPC. Knowledge = Safety!

Yorkville Dam Deaths – Memorial Day Weekend Incident

Analysis & Comment by Randy Hetfield – CWA Safety Chair

Yorkville Dam, portrait of a killer!

Summary:

On May 27, 2006 kayaker Craig Fliege, 38, from Villa Park, flipped and drowned at the Glen Palmer Dam on the Fox river in Yorkville, IL. Brothers Bruce R. Sperling, 31, of Lombard, and Mark R. Sperling, 27, of Yorkville drowned while attempting to rescue him.

Witnesses reported that Mr. Fliege, who had been boating for a couple years and was familiar with the area, was apparently talking on a cell phone as he approached the dam. He appeared to be distracted and may not have noticed the danger until it was too late. He put down his cell phone and put on his PFD just before going over.

The Sperling brothers were at a nearby canoe livery and were in the process of renting canoes when they saw Mr. Fliege go into the dam. They attempted to wade into the river to effect a rescue, but were caught in the hydraulic and pulled in.

Newspaper articles note that the Sperling brothers were very active in both their church and their communities and were well known for their kindness, generosity, and selflessness.

It has also been noted that the DNR is starting a project this summer to replace the current vertical drop with a series of steps designed to minimize the hydraulic at the base . A canoe/fish chute is also planned. This is a controversial project, as local activists want the dam removed entirely for safety and environmental reasons. Others prefer that the dam remain due to the recreational benefits to fishermen and boaters. (UPDATE: this is almost complete, see the Yorkville page)

The Glen Palmer Dam is 6 ft in height and several hundred feet wide. It is a vertical drop with no breaks. Concrete walls line the banks at either end. Though the river downstream is shallow enough for fishermen to wade in, it is reported that the water is 12 ft deep at the base of the dam and boulders and debris line the bottom at that point. A strong, river-wide hydraulic forms at the base. It is reported that there are signs and buoys around the dam (though some may not have been in place). The total number of deaths at the dam since construction in the 60's is 16. American Whitewater describes a class I-II play wave downstream of the dam and lists the Memorial Weekend flow of 2250 CFS as a medium level. USGS reports that this is normal flow for that time of year.

Random Comments:

  1. As a general rule, there is only weak current upstream of this type of structure. The point of no return is usually just a few feet from the edge (sometimes much closer) and well beyond where buoys are normally placed. I find it interesting that Mr. Fliege reportedly had time to put down a phone and put on a PFD before going over. One wonders if he could have paddled back upstream and didn't try or if he intended to run the dam. We will probably never know.
  2. The rescue attempt by the Sperling brothers proved to be ineffectual. Though they died as heroes, it does not seem to have significantly improved their already high repute. One wonders how many lives would have been changed for the better if they had survived to continue their extensive community work.
  3. Though the step dam modification should help, one wonders if more should be done. The step dam will still be nearly river wide and uniform. The hydraulics will be reduced, but could still be retentative at some levels. The step dams on the Des Plaines river in Wheeling are good examples. One wonders if irregularities should be designed into the modification to break up any holes that might continue to exist.

Safety Considerations:

There are a lot of safety considerations with regards to low head dams, paddling in general, and any sort of wilderness sport. Here are a few notes.

Paddler Responsibilities:

  1. Do not paddle alone. You are always safer if you stick with your wingman.
  2. Know the river. Unless you are doing a first descent in Outer Mongolia, there is no excuse for not knowing what is ahead of you when boating in the 21st century. If at all possible, get an experienced boater who knows the river to guide you. Don't just depend on your guide to lead you down though. He/She may forget a feature or want to play in the middle of a "hero" line. Know the river from other sources. Guide books, the American whitewater website and other internet resources, local clubs, raft/canoe liveries, and other boaters are all good sources of info on rivers in North America. Research the river before getting on it. Know the current level and what to expect. When you do get on the river, be prepared to scout. Get out and take a look if you are not sure what is around the bend. Note that rapids may have changed or trees may have fallen since the last time someone was on the river. Also know the way out if you have to walk and where the nearest hospital is.
  3. Pay attention and focus on the job at hand. It is reported that Mr. Fliege was talking on a cell phone. One can also get distracted and come to grief by watching the playboaters, rafters, scenery, or looking too far downstream. Pick your own lines independent of those paddling in front of you. Nothing is more discouraging than crossing the point of no return just before watching your probe paddler get munched.
  4. Keep out of trouble. The best way to deal with an emergency situation is not to get into it in the first place. The local lowhead dams are easily spotted, well documented, and easily avoided. This is also true of many other river hazards. The worst part of getting into trouble is that others may get hurt trying to help you. This is especially true of loved ones and first responders, who will often try harder and take greater risks to get to you. Do not be afraid to portage. Do not allow yourself to be peer pressured into questionable activities.
  5. Know how to self rescue. If you can get out of trouble on your own, no one else has to risk themselves. Be proficient with your roll. Know how to swim in current. Know about rope rescue. Have good paddling skills. Know how to maneuver in holes, waves, and over drops. Take a swiftwater rescue course and a wilderness first aid course.
  6. Know the abilities of your paddle partners. Who has the most experience on a particular run? That person should lead those who haven't been there before. Who is the least experienced? Keep a close eye on them so they don't get into trouble. Does anybody have any swiftwater rescue training/experience? Those people should be in charge of rescues. Anybody have training as a first responder or emergency medical professional? This is a big help if someone is hurt.
  7. Have the right equipment (and know how to use it) – In addition to the basics (boat, paddle, flotation, PFD, helmet, skirt), make sure someone has other useful things (and know who has them and where): first aid kit, throw ropes, knifes, saws, unpin/rescue kit, extra water (or purification pills), extra food, fire starter, emergency shelter blanket, and cell phone (very helpful when in populated areas).

Rescuer Responsibilities:

  1. Be Prepared. Carry appropriate equipment (ropes, unpin kit, first aid kit, survival kit, communications with outside world, etc.) and know how to use it through wilderness first aid, wilderness survival, and swiftwater rescue training.
  2. Assess the Situation. Identify mechanism of injury/entrapment. Identify potential hazards. Locate all paddlers and equipment and assess their situations (OK, in need of help, or injured). Know which rescue assets are available and where they are. Develop a plan and a back-up plan to deal with the situation.
  3. Set Priorities. Rescuers' safety comes first. Do not put additional people at risk. That is the job of first responders. Rescue people before equipment. However, if you are in a remote area, equipment may be important for survival and should be given higher priority than normal. When gathering equipment, consider finding the paddle first. Paddles are generally harder to find and most paddlers can't make it downstream without them.
  4. Keep it simple and safe (KISS). Uncomplicated rescues require less time and resources and result in fewer mistakes.
  5. Preferred order of rescue – RETHROG - REach, THrow, ROw, Go Swim (the Sperlings violated this one).
  6. Speed …
    …Can be essential in a life threatening situation (i.e. head under water). Don't allow rescuers' safety to be compromised.
    …Can kill. Rushing encourages mistakes. Hazards may be missed or ignored. Risks may be taken in the heat of the moment. Move as slowly and carefully as conditions allow.
  7. Provide Back-up. Determine what can go wrong and plan for it. Set people downstream for back-up. Send people upstream to stop additional traffic.
  8. Consider Victim's Current State Be prepared to treat physical injuries. Reassure victim and keep them informed of what is being done. Consider Evacuation Options (If Necessary)
  9. Organized rescues. If approaching someone else's rescue, offer assistance to rescue leader. Do not intervene without permission. If first responders are involved, talk to "situation commander".

First Responders

– Things can be interesting if/when first responders appear on the scene. As a general rule, they are trained to take over a situation and risk everything to implement a rescue. They are accustomed to being the experts in a situation and expect all "civilians" to clear out or be forcibly removed. There are some issues to watch out for: They will often violate "do not intervene in a rescue without permission". Many first responders are not as well trained in swiftwater rescue as they could be (and have few chances to practice) – though this is slowly improving. First responders are often trained in elaborate setups and may come up with elaborate plans that take time, risk themselves, and risk the victim. First responder can be reluctant to listen to "civilian's" ideas. If you find yourself involved with a situation involving First Responders and something that they are doing does not seem right, ask to communicate with the "situation commander". The situation commander is the individual who has been placed in charge of the rescue. This individual may not necessarily have any rank, but will likely be whoever was sent for training in the current situation. If allowed to speak to the situation commander, state your qualifications, then your analysis of the situation, your concerns, and your ideas for a solution. With any luck, they will consider your ideas.

Lowhead Dams and What to Do if Stuck in a Dam

The Yorkville dam is the poster child for the dangers of lowhead dams. It has all of the classic dangers: Water too deep to stand in, uniform near vertical face with no breaks or irregularities, concrete walls on either shore to prevent side exit, underwater debris, and strong riverwide hydraulic. Once someone blunders into it, there is not much chance for escape.

Paddler

- Your only real safe bet is to avoid dangerous low head dams by portaging around them.

Victim

– If you ignored the advice above and have crossed the point of no return, then you are truly screwed. There are some things that you can do that may help, but don't count on it:

  1. If you are going to go over anyway, the best thing to do is to point you bow at the drop, lean forward into an aggressive stance, paddle hard, and try to punch the hole. It is important to get good, strong, deep strokes (you need to find the deeper, un-aerated water). Do not stop paddling until you get past the boil line. Make every stroke count. You are paddling for your life. Leaning forward helps keep the stern from diving and initiating a somersault. This works best in a fast riverrunner. If you are going over a dam that is much taller than you, then you need to lean back as the boat goes over the edge. This is important to prevent pancaking and hurting your back on a high drop. The boat will needle in and dive deep (Hope you brought your creek boat). If the water is shallow, you will hit bottom and will likely break your ankles or legs. Getting pitoned is a real risk (especially with a river runner). A low volume play boat will likely do a mystery move – expect to be under water for a while. You may well come up upside down. You may come up stuck in the hole.
  2. If you can't get past the boil line (or paddled in from downstream), then you will be pulled back into the hole. The vertical nature of the dam will prevent front/stern surfing. In addition, getting an end into the falling water may well initiate a vertical move that will either pull you under or initiate a somersault/cartwheel move. At this point, you want to transition into a side surf. Remember to keep your lean downstream at all costs. Also do not let a paddle touch anything upstream. The vertical nature of the drop will cause the water to grab any edge that is presented to it and you will be window shaded hard (and probably hit your head on the dam face – hope you brought your creek geek helmet). The goal is to find the "sweet spot" for your downstream lean. Lean too far and you will be sculling your paddle for support. Don't lean enough and the upstream current will catch an edge and whip you over. Get it right and you can take a blade out of the water and use it to maneuver. This works best with a planing hull. Once you are stable, try to paddle to one shore or another. If you are lucky, the hole may be weaker. Even if walls keep you from getting out, you will be close enough to shore for someone to easily get a rope to you (you didn't paddle alone, did you?).
  3. If you flip, stay calm, and wait for the boat to become stable. Tuck tight to avoid injury to extremities. Execute a strong, but slow roll to avoid window-shading if still in the hole. Scull up if needed. Remember that the goal is to return to a downstream lean.
  4. If you end up swimming, try to stay with your boat. If it has proper flotation, it will be much more buoyant than you. The combination of swimmer + boat may even get out of the hydraulic better (see the rescue method described below). The danger is that the dam will use it to beat you over the head.
  5. If all else fails, you can try to dive to the bottom and swim out with the outgoing current in the bottom. You could be under for a long time. It is very easy to get disoriented and you will likely go the wrong way. In addition, the chances of being stuffed into the debris at the bottom and being stuck are great.

Rescuers -

  1. The best way is to get a rope to the victim from shore and pull the victim out of the hole and towards shore. Note that it may take a number of people to pull the victim out of the hole.
  2. The Fox river is shallow below the Yorkville Dam. It is very feasible for rescuers to wade into the water downstream of the boil line (don't go near the boil line) and let the hydraulic suck a rope to the victim. It helps to have a PFD, life ring, or other buoyant object tied to the rope for flotation and to make it easier for the victim to hold on. Rescuers run the risk of foot entrapment and will not be able to pull as effectively as rescuers on shore.
  3. Rescuers on shore or downstream can tie a rope to the bow of a kayak with stern flotation and put it into the hydraulic. The bow will fill with water, raising the stern, and causing the boat to power ferry across the face of the dam. The victim can grab the boat and then be ferried to shore. This technique is described in detail in the March/April 1991 issue of American Whitewater Magazine and also in "Whitewater Rescue Manual" by Charles Walbridge and Wayne Sundmacher. (Thanks to Eric Sprenne for finding this)