Law Enforcment Drift Boat Training on Rogue River, June 20

During the week of June 20-25, Marine Law Enforcement personnel from around the state will be learning and perfecting their river navigation skills on the Rogue River during a week of training. Students will learn to swim in whitewater, practice rescue techniques, navigate class III whitewater, and operate in remote environments. Students will learn to operate drift boats, rafts and catarafts. “Changing flows and inexperience are two big factors that get folks into trouble,” says Dale Flowers, Law Enforcement Training Coordinator for the Marine Board. “This training is unique in the country because of the 1:1 student/teacher ratio, during the most active time of the year for boaters,” Flowers adds. Practicing operations on a challenging river gives students an opportunity to experience exactly the same conditions as the people they are there to serve. The training also includes learning the fundamentals of “reading the river” and maneuvering. “Everything is hands-on. Students and instructors need to demonstrate physical skills and communicate really well with each other to make the learning productive while maintaining safety,” Flowers adds. Running whitewater takes training and practice, so law enforcement can respond to emergencies quickly and confidently. “This training is geared toward getting the students proficient and confident running the river in a drift boat,” adds Flowers. Each day the students drift various river sections, beginning with Class I rapids. “For example, we focus the students’ attention the first day to lifting their vision down river –to see the whole run vs. the next ten feet in front of the boat,” says Flowers. The next day, instructors build on the skills from the day before and then tackle a more difficult rapid (Class II). It’s easy to see how people get into trouble by looking directly in front of them and ultimately row into a hazardous situation,” Flowers explains. The skills the students gain give them a strong foundation to build upon when they return to their regular operating area. “We also practice scenarios where students encounter boaters and guides who are not in compliance with existing laws,” Flowers adds. “When the law enforcement students leave this training, they have a new respect for the river, the people who run it, and making sure everyone is safe and playing by the rules.” For more information about boating laws and regulations, visit www.boatoregon.co