The water levels may have dropped in the Sheep River but there are still some hazards that those attempting float down or cool off in should be aware about.

Debris can build up in all river banks including different types of branches simply called by the Okotoks fire Department 'Strainers & Sweepers'

Fire Chief Ken Thevenot says they can appear at a moments notice and can throw anyone off guard into a dangerous situation.

Okotoks Fire Chief Ken Thevenot spotting 'Strainers and Sweepers' along the Sheep River.

"We haven't had any responses to it but we've had some concerns regarding sweepers and strainers," he says. "Either way they're a tree sits above or below the water, strainers are below where you can get pinned underneath and not see it, sweepers are above water where can get caught up if you're floating on a raft or something and then get pulled under."

Thevenot says depending on the level of water the sweepers and strainers shouldn't be taken lightly.

"This would be very challenging because the river the way it's flowing right now is directing you towards some logs so the best thing would be to totally avoid it, get out of the rafts and avoid the hazard."

When it comes to safety for those on the river, Thevenot says it's easy to just look ahead to where you're floating and spot the hazards well before you get close to them. As strainers or sweepers usually tend to build up on the river's banks.

"You don't know what's under there and the force of it and depending the current on a particular day because in the last month we've had levels rise and lower so much that the river is changing all the time the banks, the trees you're going to have different hazards weekly and almost daily at times."

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