The Russian is generous in summer—shade, slow water along the shore, a place to cool down. It’s also unforgiving when we forget it’s a moving river. Three people drowned here in July 2025. Last summer, by early July, we’d already seen multiple drownings and an urgent plea from first responders. The pattern hasn’t changed; our habits have to.
What the river hides
From shore, the surface looks soft and flat. In the channel, the bottom drops without warning, currents shear, and cold pockets sap your strength. Regional Parks says there can be “unseen hazards beneath the surface,” including sudden drop‑offs and changing currents. Treat every new spot like it’s new—because the river moved it overnight.
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