River and Creek Crossing Risk Assessment

Crossing moving water is a complex hazard because it involves interacting forces of current, depth, temperature, and terrain. Even shallow water can be destabilizing if it moves quickly or flows over uneven, slippery surfaces. Observing the water from the bank, noting visible turbulence, submerged obstacles, and potential recovery zones, forms the basis of risk assessment. Considering what would happen in the event of a fall, including where a person might be carried and how difficult it would be to exit, helps gauge potential consequences.

Water levels often change with recent weather, snowmelt, and time of day, so a previously manageable crossing can become hazardous after sustained warmth or rain. Individuals differ in how they handle balance and cold, and a crossing that feels manageable to one person may exceed another’s limits. Identifying available alternatives, such as looking for better locations, using established bridges, or delaying a crossing for conditions to improve, provides additional options. When observations and thresholds indicate that risk is too high, turning back or waiting is a normal and responsible conclusion.