Summer hasn’t even begun and already 22 river-related incidents along the Potomac have been reported.
“We don’t normally see this many incidents” this early in the year, said Kevin Brandt, superintendent for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park.
Brandt said park services were watching the trend carefully — particularly after the April 26 accidental drowning of an 11-year-old boy and the man who dove into the Potomac trying to rescue him.
“This water may look calm,” Brandt said from the riverbank off MacArthur Boulevard — the same place where four children were rescued last month. “It is beautiful, it is quiet — but it is also very deceiving.”
The Potomac River Safety Task Force, which is a coalition of police, park rangers, and fire and rescue teams, gathered on the river gorge Thursday to reinforce park safety guidelines.
The catchphrase of the day was “respect.”
“Respect of the river is a must and it is not negotiable,” said Bob Zoldos, Fairfax fire and rescue operations chief. “No matter how well you swim, please don’t be fooled.”
Because of the river’s strong current, swimming and wading are forbidden in the Potomac.
Zoldos, along with his fire and rescue team, wore helmets and life vests strapped over waterproof suits.
“We respect the river by wearing protective gear,” he said, urging people to remember their life vests.
Assistant Chief Patrick Burke of the Homeland Security Bureau announced that “Operation Dry Water,” a national crackdown on boating under the influence, would be under way June 26 to 28.
“This project seeks to stop [drunk boaters] before they hit the road,” Burke said. In 2007, 20 percent of boating fatalities were alcohol-related, according to Coast Guard statistics.
Park rangers warned that accidents along Billy Goat Trail, a rocky hiking path along the Potomac in Montgomery County, are even more common than river accidents. The trail’s level of difficulty compares with some spots in Yellowstone and Glacier national parks and it can be “treacherous,” rangers said. The National Park Service encourages hikers to wear proper footwear with good arch support, and to bring plenty of water, a first aid kit, cell phone and whistle.
Brandt said incidents along the Potomac were commonly reported by other park visitors — but often they don’t know who to call. To report an accident, call U.S. Park Police at 202-619-7300.
