Almost a low-water tragedy...

drx44420 · 08-07-2016, 10:43 AM

We talk a lot about the dangerous hydraulics below low-head dams. Here's another problem with them...

I received a call from an experienced Niles canoeist who was recently paddling with a friend down the Mahoning River from Leavittsburg to Niles.

At the isolated industrial dam south of Warren, off of Main. Ave. SW (and between it and Pine Ave.SE , aka Niles-Warren River Rd. SE, Warren Ave.) they were surprised by an unexpected and dangerous problem.

As they approached the dam and tried to exit left for a portage around the dam, the front paddler was getting out. The rear paddler wasn't as lucky.
With the low water, not flowing OVER the dam, but rather UNDER it, it created a hydraulic sucking force that pulled their 17" aluminum canoe and the rear paddler down UNDER the upstream side of the dam!

The unlucky paddler was carried UNDER the dam and deposited on the downstream side. Luckily, he survived and was able the tell me about his near-death experience!

The canoe was caught in the upstream force and remained there for several days until the water rose and pushed it over the dam. It was badly damaged and is now in a scrapyard.

08-07-2016, 10:43 AM	#1
drx44420 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 20 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	Almost a low-water tragedy... We talk a lot about the dangerous hydraulics below low-head dams. Here's another problem with them... I received a call from an experienced Niles canoeist who was recently paddling with a friend down the Mahoning River from Leavittsburg to Niles. At the isolated industrial dam south of Warren, off of Main. Ave. SW (and between it and Pine Ave.SE , aka Niles-Warren River Rd. SE, Warren Ave.) they were surprised by an unexpected and dangerous problem. As they approached the dam and tried to exit left for a portage around the dam, the front paddler was getting out. The rear paddler wasn't as lucky. With the low water, not flowing OVER the dam, but rather UNDER it, it created a hydraulic sucking force that pulled their 17" aluminum canoe and the rear paddler down UNDER the upstream side of the dam! The unlucky paddler was carried UNDER the dam and deposited on the downstream side. Luckily, he survived and was able the tell me about his near-death experience! The canoe was caught in the upstream force and remained there for several days until the water rose and pushed it over the dam. It was badly damaged and is now in a scrapyard.