Talk to someone who has canoed the river recently. Every year canoeists put themselves in dangerous situations that result in injuries that could have been prevented. Even experienced canoeists sometimes forget that moving water carries an awesome force. Nebraska rivers have little whitewater, but looks are often deceiving. Even calmlooking streams and rivers can carry strong undercurrents, hold invisible obstructions and partially submerged bankside trees that can trap canoeists.
Rivers are dynamic and constantly changing.
What may have been an easy passage or a fun little chute the last trip, can become a dangerous obstacle. Sandhills rivers maintain a fairly constant water level yearround, but most other rivers in the state are subject to seasonal fluctuations. A river can change appearance and character several times a year. Canoeists who are unsure of a stretch of river should portage around it. Nebraska laws require that all canoes have on board a U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejacket for each person, and children under 12 must wear a lifejacket at all times while on the water.