ANALYSIS: (Walbridge)

1. The man clearly did not understand the danger that dams pose to paddlers. It takes many years of experience to tell the difference between a dangerous hydraulic and a safe one. While a few dams can be safely run at low flows, most paddlers are best advised to stay away from them.

2. Part of the safety problem is that, at low flows, dams often turn into harmless water slides. They’re scrapy, but safe. They assume a dangerous configuration after the water rises and a hydraulic forms. This explains why someone may run a dam successfully one day only to encounter trouble on a later attempt.

3. Any attempt to rescue a person caught in the backwash of a dam must keep the rescuers clear of the hydraulic. It’s not unusual for rescuers paddling into a hydraulic to be killed while, as in this case,  the victim survives.

4. After the first drowning in April, the Garden State Canoe Club pressured the water company to post warning signs and to create a marked portage trail. This started a lengthy battle. They gained support from local police and fire companies, state representatives, and finally the New Jersey Marine Police before they succeeded. The signs were in place before the second drowning, and  probably saved the life of Toomey’s companion. Similar warning signs should be maintained by all dam-owning companies as a civic duty.