May 23, 2023 - Madera County Sheriff’s Office officials report that Sheriff Tyson Pogue joins with Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni and Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke who have also issued closures along the San Joaquin River in their respective counties.
Sheriff Pogue believes there is a significant risk to the public who choose to recreate along the San Joaquin River. Sheriff Pogue is issuing an emergency closure on the San Joaquin River from Millerton Lake/Friant Dam south along the River to the Merced County Line.
Recreational activity means any outdoor activity undertaken along the river or on the river for the purpose of exercise, relaxation, or pleasure, including practice or instruction in any such activity. Examples of those activities are fishing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, diving, and any water sports.
Anyone found on the river during this emergency closure could be arrested for a violation of Entering a Closed Area (Penal Code Section 409.5), a misdemeanor.
Sheriff Pogue said “The river is dynamically changing from day to day. With this emergency closure, we are safeguarding not only the public but our Sheriff’s Deputies, Firefighters and EMS providers from the hazard of getting into the water trying to save someone.”
With the large snowpack in the mountains, Friant Dam is having to make calculated decisions regarding outflows to the San Joaquin River day to day. This causes the river to change very quickly from one day to the next.
Earlier in the month of May, Friant Dam had a few days of low releases between 3,000 - 5,000 Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS). Friant Dam is currently releasing between 9,000 – 10,000 CFS and will remain at these levels to meet inflows from the melting snowpack. The Department of Water Resources (DWR), is forecasting much of the snow melt run off to occur in June.
To provide the public a perspective, 1 CFS is equal to 7.48 gallons of water per second. When Friant Dam is releasing 9,000 CFS into the San Joaquin River, roughly 67,320 gallons of water are flowing down the river per second.
Sheriff Pogue continues, “To provide visual reference on the sheer volume of water coming down off the mountains- One cubic foot is almost the size of a basketball; on the San Joaquin River we have about 9,000 basketballs flowing down river each second.”
An additional concern is the water temperature. As of this weekend, monitoring stations below Friant Dam were reporting water temperatures around 51 degrees. Most people begin to lose fine motor skills after being in 51-degree water for 10-15 minutes, then to the point of exhaustion or unconsciousness within an hour.
Madera County has had one drowning at Bass Lake in late April.
Many lakes, rivers and streams are flowing at peak flows and are extremely cold. These increased flows and cold temperatures are extreme hazards that will be with us until late summer. Those who are coming to Madera County to enjoy its beauty this summer, remember STOP.
S - Stay Together: Most Search and Rescue emergencies happen when parties split up. Stay with your partners until you return to the trailhead.
T - Turn Around: When you’re out on the trail, make sure you’re eating and drinking regularly, and stop and rest if you feel sick. If you don’t feel better after a rest, it’s time to turn around.
O – Ownership: You are responsible for your own safety and rescue is never a guarantee.
P – Prepare: Bring the gear you need and know how to use it.
Source & map: Madera County Sheriff’s Office
