Safety Teams Issue Drowning Warnings For These Idaho Waterways

Southern Idaho safety officials are warning people prior to the Memorial Day weekend about area waterways where extreme caution needs to be practiced to avoid injury or death. Some sites should be avoided completely due to safety concerns.

There are a few popular waterways in the area that see higher rates of fatalities and accidents due to unsafe currents, dangerous crossings, overpopulation, and other factors.

Warnings Issued For Southern Idaho Waterways

With Magic Valley temperatures expected to climb into the eighties by Sunday, many area residents will be basking in the sunshine near the water. To help reduce the risk of drownings and severe injuries, community safety officials are reminding area residents about locations that pose greater threats to personal safety.

May is National Water Safety Month, so agencies such as the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare are reminding people of the dangers of swimming or floating in canals. 'The Drops' is an irrigation canal that is on private property northwest of Shoshone that people trespass on every year to float down. Numerous drownings have happened there over the past decade, so this location should be avoided.

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READ MORE: Stay Away From 'The Drops' Near Shoshone

Pillar Falls on the Snake River is another spot where local police warn swimmers annually about powerful currents and slippery rocks that have resulted in many fatalities over the years.

The power plant plunge pool at Thousand Springs State Park in Hagerman is another off limits site that people trespass to. A high volume of water is released into this area periodically which makes swimming there extremely dangerous.