Eugene Springfield Fire rescued a person from a low-head dam in Glenwood on Saturday, the latest in a string of recent calls at similar dams on the Willamette River and across Oregon. The incident was reported by David DeMille, a news editor at The Register Guard.
Crews arrived at the dam shortly after 4 p.m. following reports of a person trapped on the dam near the D Street boat ramp. Two boats converged on the location and rescuers were able to remove the individual from the area without incident.
The rescued person had been floating down the river on a craft not designed for swift water and was not wearing a life jacket, a common scenario in water rescues.
Low-head dam on the Willamette River.
Low-head dams, sometimes called “drowning machines” in the kayaking community, are particularly dangerous. They create strong recirculating currents that can trap and drown anyone who gets too close, making them frequent sites of water-related accidents. According to the National Weather Service, over 110 fatalities due to low-head dam incidents were reported from 2018 to 2020.
Countless search and rescue operations have been conducted at or near low-head dams along the Willamette River and other Oregon waterways. This year alone, seven college students nearly drowned in May after going over a dam on substandard flotation devices. In July, two people were rescued from Millrace Dam after their inflatable raft became entangled.
“There are many dangerous obstacles on our rivers, both natural and man-made,” a fire department issued warning stated. “Please use the proper equipment and wear a life jacket when out on the river.” David DeMille, The Register Guard, highlighted the importance of raising public awareness about the dangers of low-head dams.
