COLUMBUS – The March flooding and a wet spring have caused a variety of changes to area rivers, and extra precautions are being urged for those going out on the water this summer.

Platte County Sheriff Ed Wemhoff says that some rivers have changed course and cut a new path due to the flooding event, which has also left a healthy amount of debris in its wake. Wemhoff says that full trees, logs, and even barbed wire has been found in areas that were once clear.

Wemhoff also says that during the recent search efforts that rescue teams have had to conduct, authorities with poles 10-14 feet in length were unable to reach the bottom of the Platte River in some areas.

“That tells us there’s areas out there that have been washed out quite a bit,” Wemhoff said. “Due to the higher floodwaters because of our wet spring, none of those have really dried up to a point for us to know where those are all at.”

The dangerous conditions have caused a pair of drownings in the Columbus area over the last three weeks. 19-year-old Nicholas Rodriguez of Wayne drowned in Lake North on May 26th, and 18-year-old Bryan Montenegro Gonzalez drowned in the Platte River near Tailrace Park on June 8th.

Wemhoff is urging residents, no matter how experienced of swimmers they may be, to be aware of their surroundings, use rational thought when going out on any body of water, and to make sure they are always keeping an eye on water levels and the strength of the currents.

“I’d rather someone be prepared for the potential threats and they never present themselves, then for someone to go out and find themselves in a compromising or dangerous situation,” Wemhoff said. “Take into consideration if you’re in a familiar or unfamiliar lake, if you’re swimming someplace where the river has changed channels, or the flood had some impact on the water. After a flood, things change, so just be very cautious and aware of what you are doing.”

Wemhoff says that in the event any more drowning situations occur, rescue teams will be ready and on-hand, but he hopes that it doesn’t happen again as the summer continues.