Boaters Advised to Avoid Willamette River as High Water Dislodges Logs and Debris

River levels between Salem and Portland are expected to continue to raise slowly but remain below flood stage.

(Evan Bell/KATU)

Unusually heavy rain in Northwest Oregon has turned the Willamette River into a minefield of debris.

Related: Swelling Willamette and Columbia Rivers Could Flood Parts of Portland This Weekend

WW's news partner KATU floated the river today with Portland Fire and Rescue, capturing on video the mess that has washed into Portland on a swollen river.

The fire department and the National Weather Service are advising that boaters avoid the river until the flooding subsides. NWS yesterday issued flood warnings for towns all along the Willamette. That warning is in effect throughout the weekend.

The agency notes that river levels between Salem and Portland are expected to continue to raise slowly but remain below flood stage.

Elise Herron

Elise Herron grew up in Sisters, Oregon and joined Willamette Week as web editor in 2018.

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