Spillway Remains Deadly | The Source Weekly - Bend

Spillway Remains Deadly

On Saturday evening another person was rescued from drowning in the spillway. He was a floater with an air mattress and ended up in the

On Saturday evening another person was rescued from drowning in the spillway. He was a floater with an air mattress and ended up in the middle of the river fighting to get away from the spillway. The current forced him against the spillway and he was on the verge going under.


Ironically we were having a gathering to support the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance on the back lawn at Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe. I saw the struggling person and called to the rest of the group, a posse ran to his rescue, pulled him up and he flushed through. A few bumps and bruises and he is okay.

This is my fifth summer in Bend and I have heard of a few deaths and have seen numerous close calls with the infamous spillway. I think the spillway must be removed and I know many others feel the same. On any given summer day the Deschutes River from Farewell Bend Park to the spillway is the most crowded recreation area in Central Oregon.

How many more people have to die before this liability is removed?

Paul Rodham