With water levels and current speeds rising, river-goers should proceed with caution

Appleton Post-Crescent

High water levels on area rivers, including here on the Fox River near 1000 Islands Environmental Center in Kaukauna, adds to the potential dangers on the water during the spring season.

Saturday's death of a 47-year-old kayaker from Appleton, found in the Embarrass River north of Shiocton, highlights the dangers on area rivers during the spring season.

Few details are known of what happened to Charles "Nate" McBride on Saturday.

Outagamie County Sheriff's staff Sgt. Ryan Carpenter said McBride was not wearing a life jacket when he was found on the shoreline but that he had safety equipment in his kayak. The kayak was located 1½ miles north of where a deputy had found his car, footprints and drag marks that indicated he had put the kayak in the water there, the department said previously.

"He was in the water at one point" but was found on the shoreline, Carpenter told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. "I think he had a foot in the water and the rest of him was out.”

Investigators are waiting on autopsy results to determine how he died. Those could take weeks.

Ken Braband, vice president of the North East Wisconsin Paddlers and an American Canoe Association certified kayak instructor, said spring is known as one of the most dangerous times of the year for local rivers.

Water levels rise with the snow melt, leading to current speeds picking up. These factors, coupled with the cold water temperatures, make things difficult — even for an experienced kayaker, Braband said.

"Too many people don't know how cold the water still is once temperatures rise," he said. "That's the real danger, the cold water, and plus you add to that the factor of water levels being high and the fewer calm places to get out of the river this time of year."

As of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey water resources website listed eight Wisconsin rivers as "high," and 24 other river locations in the 90th percentile for height. These percentiles are based on readings from the past 30 years in each spot.

The rivers listed as "high" include the Oconto, Wolf and Yellow rivers, which are under flood warnings, the National Weather Service in Green Bay said.

While water sports such as kayaking and canoeing may take extra planning and safety gear at this time of year, Braband said, water enthusiasts shouldn't be discouraged from taking trips down local rivers.

"If you are trained, understand the conditions, are dressed properly for the conditions and have buddies to go with you certainly mitigate the risks this time of year," he said.

To ensure safety in cold water, Braband recommends a full dry suit or wet suit to go along with a life jacket and a helmet.

Wearing one of these suits along with having a life jacket on can go a long way to ensuring safety, Braband said.

After being cooped up all winter, kayakers are anxious to get back on the water. But Braband stresses education for kayakers.

"There is a saying among kayaking instructors that goes, 'you don't know what you don't know'," he said. "Too many people think, 'I can make my boat move' or 'I can paddle myself around', but there are just so many other factors involved in kayaking that you won't know until you take that first lesson or class."