Russian River Water Safety Patrol

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

Between January 2002 and December 2012, 21 people drowned on the Russian River in Sonoma County, California. Nine of the victims entered the river through public access points in four Regional Parks. In 2012, five people drowned on the Russian River, four of which were in Regional Parks. In 2013, the Russian River Water Safety Patrol was created. The River Patrol is an education and prevention focused water safety team consisting of Sonoma County Regional Parks Rangers and Open Water Lifeguards whom are tasked to save lives along the Russian River. The River Team patrolled the four Regional Parks along the Russian River with the highest incidence of past water related emergencies Memorial Day through Labor Day in 2013. The River Team dove the river charting water depths and hazards at each of the four parks. They then created safety maps showing the depths and hazards and used these to educate the public while on patrol. In July, lifejacket loaner stations were installed at each of the four Regional Parks. While on patrol: the River Team educated the public on the dangers at the river, handed out water safety educational materials, properly fit loaner lifejackets, disseminated information in a non-law enforcement manner and made life saving rescues. They recorded quantifiable data such as: Number of Visitors, Spanish Speaking Safety Contacts, Water Safety Assists, Rescues, Missing Persons and Lifejackets Loaned. During the Pilot 2013 summer season, the River Patrol was a huge success. The team made 17 life-saving rescues, 8,002 Safety Contacts, 3,002 Spanish Speaking Safety Contacts, 8 assists, properly fit 1,315 lifejackets, and found one missing person. No one drowned on County owned property along the Russian River in 2013.