SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A lot of people are hitting Sacramento County waterways to escape the heat, but there's also been some tragic results.
Just days ago, the body of a 16-year-old was pulled from the American River after going under in the area of Clay Banks in Rancho Cordova. A 25-year-old man also needed to be rescued.
To help prevent future tragedies, Sacramento County Regional Parks installed a handful of new warning signs along some of the most dangerous parts of the American River.
They're designed to alert visitors of all backgrounds and languages. They show the dangers unique to certain areas of the river where the signs are posted; Clay Banks, El Manto River Access area and Tiscornia Beach.
"It's important to understand the river. The river is flowing water. It's cold, it's snowmelt water and understanding that this river here is very unpredictable," said David Spencer, with the Sacramento County Regional Park Rangers.
It's why there are new signs in the area. They show pictures of the unique dangers people could encounter, such as a strong current, an uneven bottom and debris.
"The signs are pretty interpretive; they have a lot of visuals on them, very little in terms of wording... to get an idea of what the signs say, what they mean and what the hazards are," said Ken Casparis, spokesperson for Sacramento County Regional Parks.
Just in the month of June, rangers said they've had about 30 water rescues.
The new signs are located around various access points to increase visibility, not just near the water but also in the parking lots and walking paths near the river.
Rangers said the El Manto River Access area is particularly risky, so look at the signs, be prepared and wear a life jacket.
"In many areas, especially here, it flows almost in a circular motion and no matter how good of a swimmer you are, sometimes you just can't defeat that circular motion," Spencer said.
Regional Parks rangers are also stepping up their patrols to keep people safe. All 42 rangers will be deployed starting Wednesday.
They'll be busy enforcing laws up and down the river on the water and on the land. There is also a temporary alcohol ban on the lower American River from Thursday to Sunday.
