Experts say more water in Whitewater River means more danger

With temperatures rising and students out of school for spring break, taking a dip in the Whitewater River might be tempting.

But water districts are urging everyone to avoid that area.

“The river is so quick that even when it’s just under knee deep, it will take your legs out from under you and wash you down the river and bounce you rock, after rock, and it’s not a good scenario at all,” said Steven Harris, owner of Off Road Rentals.

Unfortunately some people don’t heed the warnings.

Harris said year after year, he hears about someone drowning.

“We advised other people not to go into the river and there are people that didn’t listen. And we know of eight fatalities that occurred in that river over about a seven or eight year period,” Harris said.

Robert Keeran with the Coachella Valley Water District said there’s more water in the river than years past because were getting more from the Colorado River.

That makes his warning even more important

“The Whitewater River is a wild and dangerous river. Right now we’re receiving water from the Colorado River aqueduct. That means the current flows are around 200 to 250 cubic feet per second,” Keeran said.

That’s like having the force of 200 basketballs moving past a given point, every second.

Experts say the river is unpredictable and treacherous.

“So this occasional river has no hard banks, no sides. Instead you have sand and loose gravel and as new water comes in, it will erode away the bottoms. You’ll have large rocks and boulders move with the water current you can hear them,” Keeran said.

Keeran advises anyone who wants to play in the water to check out the Whitewater Preserve because there’s pools to play in which are safer.

While it may be unsafe to swim in the river, Keeran said we’re fortunate it’s filling up again.

“We’re very fortunate were able to receive this water to replenish our aquifer. We haven’t received it for a couple of years now so this is going to help the aquifer tremendously,” Keeran said.

But when it comes to taking a dip, obey the no trespassing signs, they just might save your life.