Dangerous water levels and flow close part of Kings River to boats. Here’s where

A portion of the Kings River has been closed to boating, as dangerous water levels and underwater hazards make it “extremely dangerous” for any type of motorized watercraft to navigate safety.

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux announced the closure on Thursday, citing an assessment of the river that “showed numerous hazards, including sand bars, tree trunks, logs and wood debris just below the surface of the water in several areas.”

The closure, which affects a short portion of the river running through Tulare County into Kern County, applies to all motorized watercraft, including boats and jet skis. The Sheriff Office’s Marine Enforcement Unit will enforce the restrictions, though it is unclear what that enforcement entails. The closure is in place “until further notice.”

The river remains open to other forms recreation (swimming, floating and the like), though the sheriff urges caution and suggests the use of a personal flotation device when in the water.

The Kings River runs mostly through Fresno County; its northern part through Kings Canyon and the Sequoia national parks, where it is known for fishing and whitewater rafting excursions. The lower part of the river flows from Pine Flat Dam past Sanger and Reedley, where it runs into Tulare County east of Kingsburg.

No such warnings or closures have been made in Fresno County.