NorthSaskatchewanRiver
If planning to swim in the North Saskatchewan River its always wise to be on the safe side. Recognize the flow of the river and know that there is a top current and a bottom current to be aware of. It can be a very unpredictable body of water and the speed of the river water could be deceiving.
Not only should swimmers be concerned when in the water, they should also know that bacteria or parasites in the water can cause skin irritation or diarrhea or gastrointestinal illnesses if ingested.
More and more people are boating and floating on the North Saskatchewan and once again police are putting out the warning that drinking booze on boats is illegal.....and dangerous. In addition to drinking, smoking marijuana, anything that floats is considered a boat and requires specific safety equipment on-board.For floating devices that means safety jackets and for boats there's too much to mention here. Its a beautiful river but like all water it can be dangerous.
Whether in a canoe, kayak, water craft or power boat a trip down the North Saskatchewan river is an awesome way to spend a day or afternoon. Unfortunately water levels are the lowest they've been in about 50 years so running aground is a real possibility and can be a rude wakening. Moterized craft are being warned to stay of the river until water levels rise, probably in July.