Brian Gerhardstein Brian

watercraft.ohiodnr.gov

Ryan Hulvat, Dusty Hall, Sarah Hippensteel, Kevin Swanson and and Swanson Kevin Hippensteel, Sarah Hall, Dusty Hulvat, Ryan

(614) 265-6480 (614)

PHOTOS:

www.miamicountyparks.com 1-877-4BOATER or or 1-877-4BOATER

how to treat hypothermia. treat to how

cleaning equipment between trips. between equipment cleaning fax: (937) 667-0919 (937) fax: Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693 Ohio Columbus,

boater should be able to recognize and know know and recognize to able be should boater (937) 667-1086 or (937) 335-9547 (937) or 667-1086 (937) 2045 Morse Road, Building A Building Road, Morse 2045 introducing non-native species, including live bait, by bait, live including species, non-native introducing

Division of Watercraft of Division Tipp City, Ohio 45371 Ohio City, Tipp

as silk, polypropylene, fleece and wool. Every Every wool. and fleece polypropylene, silk, as • Leave artifacts and natural objects undisturbed. Avoid undisturbed. objects natural and artifacts Leave •

and The Miami Conservancy District Conservancy Miami The and

Natural Resources Natural 2535 Ross Road Ross 2535

that wick moisture away and retain heat, such such heat, retain and away moisture wick that Leave what you find you what Leave

Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft Watercraft of Division Resources Natural of Department Ohio Miami County Park District Park County Miami Ohio Department of Department Ohio

hypothermia, dress in layers using materials materials using layers in dress hypothermia, Safety information provided by the the by provided information Safety

would want. would

www.darkecountyparks.org www.metroparks.org tion are early symptoms. To guard against against guard To symptoms. early are tion

from their property. Share the same courtesy that you you that courtesy same the Share property. their from

(937) 548-0165 (937) (937) 275-PARK (7275) 275-PARK (937)

- coordina of lack and speech slurred shivering,

• Many landowners enjoy the stream’s peace and solitude solitude and peace stream’s the enjoy landowners Many •

Greenville, Ohio 45331 Ohio Greenville, Dayton, Ohio 45402 Ohio Dayton,

can contribute to the condition. Uncontrollable Uncontrollable condition. the to contribute can

swim to calm water before standing. before water calm to swim downstream of the bridge on river right (west side). (west right river on bridge the of downstream 4267 State Route 502 Route State 4267 Third Floor Third bottom are privately owned. privately are bottom

hypothermic. Wind chill, rain and perspiration perspiration and rain chill, Wind hypothermic.

P.O Box 801 Box P.O 409 E. Monument Avenue Monument E. 409

there. Always keep your feet up, pointed downstream, and and downstream, pointed up, feet your keep Always there. The parking area is is area parking The bridge. Road Fenner at Land 23.4 on public property, but most of the shoreline and river river and shoreline the of most but property, public on

SW

Darke County Park District Park County Darke Five Rivers MetroParks Rivers Five

have to be submerged to become become to submerged be to have don’t You

of the current can push you under the water and hold you you hold and water the under you push can current the of

• The access points highlighted in this guide are located located are guide this in highlighted points access The •

the bridge to the river at this location. this at river the to bridge the

between submerged rocks or debris. Once pinned, the force force the pinned, Once debris. or rocks submerged between

Please contact them for more information. more for them contact Please riverfront landowners riverfront

into the water. the into

There is no public access from from access public no is There bridge. 48 Route 24.0

SW

Conservancy District and the following water trail partners. partners. trail water following the and District Conservancy are in high, swift-moving water. You may pin a foot foot a pin may You water. swift-moving high, in are

Display courtesy and respect to to respect and courtesy Display to help keep your head above water if you fall fall you if water above head your keep help to

All the access point information was provided by The Miami Miami The by provided was information point access the All If your boat capsizes, do not attempt to stand or walk if you you if walk or stand to attempt not do capsizes, boat your If

event.

boat. Keep your life jacket securely fastened fastened securely jacket life your Keep boat. rings, and other clear plastics float on the water. the on float plastics clear other and rings,

Water Trail Partners Trail Water

of the river could look and flow differently after each rain rain each after differently flow and look could river the of Foot Entrapments Foot

measures necessary to avoid capsizing your your capsizing avoid to necessary measures • Plastics are dangerous to wildlife – plastic bags, six-pack six-pack bags, plastic – wildlife to dangerous are Plastics •

islands in the middle of the river. This means that the path path the that means This river. the of middle the in islands

cold water immersion, take all all take immersion, water cold prevent To • Never throw garbage into the water. the into garbage throw Never •

stream can form large beaches along the riverbanks and and riverbanks the along beaches large form can stream

• Repackage food to minimize waste. minimize to food Repackage •

Scenic River system provides exceptional fishing. exceptional provides system River Scenic without drowning can result. can drowning without

surface or below the water. All strainers should be avoided. be should strainers All water. the below or surface

- down washes that gravel and sand the year the of times

Dispose of litter properly – pack it out it pack – properly litter of Dispose

and good water quality, the Stillwater and Greenville Creek Creek Greenville and Stillwater the quality, water good and Loss of consciousness and death with or or with death and consciousness of Loss tremendous force. The current may hold you at the water water the at you hold may current The force. tremendous Stillwater River makes several big bends. At different different At bends. big several makes River Stillwater

Outdoor Ethic Ethic Outdoor easily capsize a boat. a capsize easily glaciated plains of western Ohio. With excellent habitat habitat excellent With Ohio. western of plains glaciated of the body’s core temperature) can begin. begin. can temperature) core body’s the of

push you against the strainer and hold you in place with with place in you hold and strainer the against you push he Penny Road and Fenner Road bridges the the bridges Road Fenner and Road Penny he t Between

the dam, even in a boat. The turbulence at the dam will will dam the at turbulence The boat. a in even dam, the Greenville Creek meander with a gentle grade across the the across grade gentle a with meander Creek Greenville and within 30 minutes, hypothermia (cooling (cooling hypothermia minutes, 30 within and it to tip. If you should fall into the water, the current will will current the water, the into fall should you If tip. to it

25.0

Penny Road bridge Road Penny

SW never approach the top of the dam or the backwash below below backwash the or dam the of top the approach never t of their course, the Stillwater River and and River Stillwater the course, their of t mos Through

dexterity and coordination deteriorate rapidly, rapidly, deteriorate coordination and dexterity currents will press against the side of your boat and cause cause and boat your of side the against press will currents

• Communicate boating instructions. boating Communicate •

shore to the trapped person. Untrained rescuers should should rescuers Untrained person. trapped the to shore

the harder it is to control your body. Manual Manual body. your control to is it harder the

you and your boat right into the strainer. Those same same Those strainer. the into right boat your and you

forested.

istics, water quality, present use and natural conditions. natural and use present quality, water istics,

sight; stop if the downstream boat isn’t visible. isn’t boat downstream the if stop sight;

dam. Immediately call for help, then throw a line from from line a throw then help, for call Immediately dam.

The longer you are immersed in cold water, water, cold in immersed are you longer The

the water flows through strainers, river currents may carry carry may currents river strainers, through flows water the

bass are abundant along this section. The river banks are are banks river The section. this along abundant are bass

- character biological cover, forest adjacent length, stream’s

• Always keep the next boat upstream and downstream in in downstream and upstream boat next the keep Always •

water in an attempt to rescue someone trapped by a low low a by trapped someone rescue to attempt an in water

heart rhythm that also may result in death. death. in result may also that rhythm heart

branches and limbs, log jams and flooded islands. Because Because islands. flooded and jams log limbs, and branches

- deep holes and structure - for good fishing. Smallmouth Smallmouth fishing. good for - structure and holes deep -

scenic and recreational. These criteria examine the the examine criteria These recreational. and scenic

as a group. a as

Unless you are trained in low dam rescues, never enter the the enter never rescues, dam low in trained are you Unless

changes in blood pressure, heart rate and and rate heart pressure, blood in changes

“strainers.” They are frequently found in the form of of form the in found frequently are They “strainers.”

wood ducks, and many songbirds. There is plenty of habitat habitat of plenty is There songbirds. many and ducks, wood Act provides three catagories for river classification–wild, classification–wild, river for catagories three provides Act

• Maintain space to avoid collisions, but still stay compact compact stay still but collisions, avoid to space Maintain •

water and drowning. It also can cause sudden cause can also It drowning. and water

but that block or “strain” people and boats are known as as known are boats and people “strain” or block that but

wildlife including belted kingfishers, great blue herons, herons, blue great kingfishers, belted including wildlife

outstanding qualities a stream possesses. Scenic Rivers Rivers Scenic possesses. stream a qualities outstanding

The remaining boats: remaining The

currents.

can result in inhaling inhaling in result can

River obstructions that allow water to flow through them them through flow to water allow that obstructions River

illwater River plays host to a variety of of variety a to host plays River illwater St the of stretch This

Scenic rivers are classified and designated according to the the to according designated and classified are rivers Scenic for the lead boat to pass.) to boat lead the for

It is nearly impossible to escape the force of a low dam’s dam’s low a of force the escape to impossible nearly is It

and vertigo – all of which of all – vertigo and

Strainers

remaining high quality streams for future generations. generations. future for streams quality high remaining passes the lead boat, it should immediately stop and wait wait and stop immediately should it boat, lead the passes

owned and managed by the Miami County Park District. Park County Miami the by managed and owned

hyperventilation, panic hyperventilation, Edition 13 20

legislation created a state program to protect Ohio’s Ohio’s protect to program state a created legislation

between the lead and sweep boats. (If a boat inadvertently inadvertently boat a (If boats. sweep and lead the between

27.0 . This park is is park This . Reserve Access Riverside 718 SR SW at each bank, making the dams easier to spot. to easier dams the making bank, each at

involuntary gasping, gasping, involuntary

Map & Guide & Map

with passage of the nation’s first scenic rivers act. The The act. rivers scenic first nation’s the of passage with

oats have a responsibility to stay in in stay to responsibility a have oats b remaining The

• Look for concrete retaining walls, which some dams have have dams some which walls, retaining concrete for Look •

can cause immediate, cause can

Lauver Road bridge to Fenner Road bridge (3.6 miles) (3.6 bridge Road Fenner to bridge Road Lauver

the river preservation movement in 1968 1968 in movement preservation river the pioneered Ohio

dangerous currents at dams. at currents dangerous

• Assists with keeping the group together. group the keeping with Assists • initial “cold shock” “cold initial Trail

and that new hazards may occur at any time. any at occur may hazards new that and • Listen for the splashing sounds of turbulence and the the and turbulence of sounds splashing the for Listen • Ohio border to its confluence with the Stillwater (35 miles). (35 Stillwater the with confluence its to border Ohio • Carries first-aid and rescue equipment. rescue and first-aid Carries • water can be deadly. The deadly. be can water

Be aware that rivers are constantly changing changing constantly are rivers that aware Be below. listed

be the top of a low dam. low a of top the be River in Dayton (58 miles), and Greenville Creek from the the from Creek Greenville and miles), (58 Dayton in River boats in the event of an emergency and: emergency an of event the in boats Sudden immersion in cold in immersion Sudden

Water

Trip and Playing it Safe, you may want to explore the trip trip the explore to want may you Safe, it Playing and Trip • Watch for a smooth line connecting the banks. This may may This banks. the connecting line smooth a for Watch •

bridge in Darke County to its junction with the Great Miami Miami Great the with junction its to County Darke in bridge experienced rescuer. The sweep boat will only pass other other pass only will boat sweep The rescuer. experienced Water Immersion Water Cold

Once you have carefully read the sections on Planning Your Your Planning on sections the read carefully have you Once from them. from include the Stillwater from Riffle Road Road Riffle from Stillwater the include

at is the last boat and should carry an an carry should and boat last the is at bo sweep The

River

• Boat with experienced, responsible boaters and learn learn and boaters responsible experienced, with Boat •

eighth scenic river. Designated sections sections Designated river. scenic eighth

Possible Day Trip Day Possible

• Carries first aid and rescue equipment. rescue and aid first Carries •

additional knowledge. additional Greenville Creek System became Ohio’s became System Creek Greenville

• Scouts the route when a clear section isn’t visible. isn’t section clear a when route the Scouts •

Stillwater

with boaters who are familiar with the river to gain gain to river the with familiar are who boaters with In 1975, the Stillwater River and River Stillwater the 1975, In

route to follow. to route

• Scout the river and know the location of hazards. Talk Talk hazards. of location the know and river the Scout • warnings and current conditions. current and warnings

• Selects and communicates to the rest of the group the the group the of rest the to communicates and Selects •

Stillwater State Scenic River Scenic State Stillwater low dam. low throughout the state. Check local media and sources for for sources and media local Check state. the throughout

rest of the boats. the of rest

safe distance, well downstream of the backwash of the the of backwash the of downstream well distance, safe Water levels are monitored on rivers and streams streams and rivers on monitored are levels Water

• Sets the pace and continually evaluates the pace for the the for pace the evaluates continually and pace the Sets •

• Portage (carry) your boat around a low dam and launch a a launch and dam low a around boat your (carry) Portage •

enced river runner. The lead boat: lead The runner. river enced

• NEVER attempt to boat over a dam or waterfall. or dam a over boat to attempt NEVER • difficult to reach shore once in the water. the in once shore reach to difficult

- experi an carry should and boat first the is boat lead The

dams or end your trip upstream from these dams. these from upstream trip your end or dams river that you plan to boat. to plan you that river paddler’s ability to avoid hazards and may make it more more it make may and hazards avoid to ability paddler’s

ous. Plan to start your river trip downstream from these these from downstream trip river your start to Plan ous. • Know the location of all low dams and waterfalls on the the on waterfalls and dams low all of location the Know •

boater. Swift currents are more likely to overcome a a overcome to likely more are currents Swift boater. Enjoy the Stillwater River responsibilities. these out carrying everyone upon

- danger extremely be can which turbulence, and currents

as floating logs or submerged trees may also threaten a a threaten also may trees submerged or logs floating as group organization. The safety of the group is dependent dependent is group the of safety The organization. group

Water Trail & Play It Safe! follow to tips Safety

Underwater portions of the dam create unpredictable unpredictable create dam the of portions Underwater

become even more dangerous. Unseen obstacles such such obstacles Unseen dangerous. more even become esponsibilities in the overall overall the in esponsibilities r specific has person Each

conduits. dam’s the through pass to attempt not Do The Stillwater River Water Trail was officially desig- dams. causes hazards such as low dams and strainers to to strainers and dams low as such hazards causes

alone. nated by the State of Ohio in July 2010. The Stillwater the through pass that (conduits) tubes concrete large the swollen due to high rains or snow melt. High water water High melt. snow or rains high to due swollen

mended minimum is three boats. No one should paddle paddle should one No boats. three is minimum mended

River Water Trail is part of the Great Miami River Water- through pass to high too are levels river when only water spilling out of the banks or on a stream that is unusually unusually is that stream a on or banks the of out spilling

- recom The trip. your for waterway a choosing in ation shed Water Trail – the largest water trail system in Ohio. back hold dams These Watershed. River Miami Great

Paddlers should never boat on a stream with water water with stream a on boat never should Paddlers

- consider important an are skills paddling and size Group

This trail system collectively offers 265 miles of waterway the in dams), low (not dams flood-protection large five

High, Swift Water Swift High,

Boating Etiquette Etiquette Boating accessible to recreational boaters, fishermen, and wildlife maintains and operates District Conservancy Miami The

watchers. A Water Trail is a network of publicly accessible Other and Floods

facilities that provide opportunities to fish; launch canoes, Dams

Miami Conservancy District District Conservancy Miami

kayaks and other craft; and explore the natural and cultural skis. jet as such watercraft personal

heritage along the river. For more information on Ohio’s operate not may and adult an by supervised directly be

Water Trails visit www.ohiodnr.gov. must watercraft a operating 12 of age the under Children •

Stillwater River Water Trail. Water River Stillwater or other water area. water other or

find the access points along the the along points access the find

• It is illegal to litter in any ditch, stream, river, lake, pond pond lake, river, stream, ditch, any in litter to illegal is It •

Watch for this sign to help you you help to sign this for Watch

kayaks, jet skis, etc.– under the influence of alcohol. of influence the under etc.– skis, jet kayaks,

• It is illegal to operate any watercraft – boats, canoes, canoes, boats, – watercraft any operate to illegal is It •

a watercraft less than 18 feet in length. in feet 18 than less watercraft a

38 E. Monument Avenue Ohio. southwest in miles square

properly fitted, USCG-approved PFD at all times while on while times all at PFD USCG-approved fitted, properly

Dayton, Ohio 45402 4,000 about drains which Watershed River Miami Great

• Display courtesy and respect to other stream users. stream other to respect and courtesy Display •

Phone: (937) 223-1271 a wear to required are 10 of age the under Children •

onservancy District operates throughout the the throughout operates District onservancy C Miami The

more low dams on its tributaries. its on dams low more

www.miamiconservancy.org out.” “walk must you flotation devices (PFDs) are required for every boater. every for required are (PFDs) devices flotation

dam. The Stillwater River has many dams, with several several with dams, many has River Stillwater The dam. water resource concerns. resource water

• Be prepared for the worst. Know how to get to roads if if roads to get to how Know worst. the for prepared Be • • United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved personal approved (USCG) Guard Coast States United •

you in if you approach too closely from downstream of the the of downstream from closely too approach you if in you • Works with communities to help identify and respond to to respond and identify help to communities with Works •

• Carry adequate drinking water. drinking adequate Carry • must be registered with Ohio DNR. Ohio with registered be must

over and over again. The backwash currents may even suck suck even may currents backwash The again. over and over

cheaper and faster. and cheaper

and take out only at public access points. access public at only out take and information. paddleboards, motorboats and most inflatable rafts, rafts, inflatable most and motorboats paddleboards,

as you rise to the surface. This circulating motion repeats repeats motion circulating This surface. the to rise you as

allows the region to improve water quality better, better, quality water improve to region the allows

• The streambed may be privately owned. Be sure to put in in put to sure Be owned. privately be may streambed The • 1-877-4BOATER or www.ohiodnr.gov for more more for www.ohiodnr.gov or 1-877-4BOATER ft, including canoes, kayaks, stand-up stand-up kayaks, canoes, including ft, watercra All •

pushed along the bottom only to be sucked back to the dam dam the to back sucked be to only bottom the along pushed

• Coordinates a water quality credit trading program that that program trading credit quality water a Coordinates • carry your boat around these hazards. these around boat your carry Department of Natural Resources at Resources Natural of Department

Boater Responsibility Boater

back against the dam then underwater before you are are you before underwater then dam the against back biking, skating, walking, jogging and enjoying. and jogging walking, skating, biking, • Know the location of all dams and other hazards, and and hazards, other and dams all of location the Know • able around the state of Ohio. Contact the Ohio Ohio the Contact Ohio. of state the around able

Watercraft Laws and and Laws Watercraft

and you. Backwash and re-circulating current can trap you you trap can current re-circulating and Backwash you. and

• Owns or maintains 35 miles of recreation trails for for trails recreation of miles 35 maintains or Owns • • Dress properly. Wear appropriate footwear. appropriate Wear properly. Dress • - avail are hazards water handle to you teach

flowing over the dam forms currents that can trap objects objects trap can that currents forms dam the over flowing

of the region’s drinking water. drinking region’s the of website at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/oh/nwis/rt. at website managed. Boating safety classes that can can that classes safety Boating managed.

from a 25-foot drop-off to a mere 6-inch drop-off. Water Water drop-off. 6-inch mere a to drop-off 25-foot a from

protect the aquifer, which supplies more than 90 percent percent 90 than more supplies which aquifer, the protect level, if available, on the U.S. Geological Survey’s Survey’s Geological U.S. the on available, if level,

with proper training, these hazards are easily easily are hazards these training, proper with

everyone can find a comfortable PFD to insure a safe trip. safe a insure to PFD comfortable a find can everyone

and can be incredibly dangerous. Low dams may range range may dams Low dangerous. incredibly be can and

• Monitors the area’s groundwater and surface water to to water surface and groundwater area’s the Monitors • warning and flood information. Check a stream gauge gauge stream a Check information. flood and warning

safe. Water offers several real dangers, but but dangers, real several offers Water safe.

open only if they hit water – to lightweight life vests, vests, life lightweight to – water hit they if only open

Low dams – like natural waterfalls – are deceptively calm calm deceptively are – waterfalls natural like – dams Low and other flood protection features in its system its in features protection flood other and

• Check river levels and flow information for any river river any for information flow and levels river Check • relaxing or thrilling, but it should always be be always should it but thrilling, or relaxing

Funding/production of this publication was a cooperative effort among the that – waist the around worn PFDs inflatable From youth.

• Operates and maintains five dry dams, 55 miles of levee of miles 55 dams, dry five maintains and Operates • and Waterfalls and

where you are going and when you will leave and return. and leave will you when and going are you where

Miami Conservancy District, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Five be can streams and rivers on Recreation since the bright orange, uncomfortable life jackets of your your of jackets life uncomfortable orange, bright the since

nservancy District: nservancy Rivers MetroParks and the Miami County Park District. Co Miami The

• File a “float plan” with a reliable person, indicating indicating person, reliable a with plan” “float a File •

Dams Dams Low Streams on Found Hazards would be without one. And PFDs have come a long way way long a come have PFDs And one. without be would

• Scout the land area and stream prior to boating it. boating to prior stream and area land the Scout •

The information contained in this map is believed to be accurate. The Miami expert boating no is truth the but “non-swimmer,” says

Conservancy District is not responsible for any inaccuracies.Interpretation and law. state by created

people think a personal flotation device (PFD) or life vest vest life or (PFD) device flotation personal a think people

use of the map and its contents are the responsibilty of the user. subdivision political a is and 1915 to back dates tion

www.miamiconservancy.org/recreation/planatrip.asp

because the person wasn’t wearing a life vest. Many Many vest. life a wearing wasn’t person the because

-

This map has been printed on a synthetic paper which is manufactured using organiza The waterways. our of enjoyment the promotes river access points and hazards vist hazards and points access river

More than 80 percent of all boating fatalities occur occur fatalities boating all of percent 80 than More

an environmentally friendly process. This map may also be recycled with and water, of quantity and quality the preserves flooding,

materials showing the following symbol: on information up-to-date most the For Conservancy District protects the region from from region the protects District Conservancy Miami The Life Vests Life

Planning a Trip a Planning

Personal Flotation Devices/ Devices/ Flotation Personal The Miami Conservancy District Conservancy Miami The

© 2013 Miami Conservancy District. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. MCD Report 2013-06 5M—8/2013