The outside of a bend is a very dangerous location for projects.  The current carries river users and debris directly into anything there unless they have the skill to avoid them.

South Fork Snoqualmie River

Water sieving through the gaps between the logs can trap hands and feet as well as pinning persons and other objects against the logs.

South Fork Snoqualmie River

Floods made this private project much more dangerous, channeling the main current flow directly under the damaged logs in the structure.  

South Fork Snoqualmie River

Heavy cables are often used in an attempt to secure log structures against the force of the current.  But broken cables remain hazards in many of our rivers.  

North Fork Stillaguamish River

 

Cedar River

Trees and projects that overhang a river can knock over a boater or innertuber.  At higher water, persons can be swept under them, trapped and drowned.  

Skykomish River near Sultan

Wood placement adjacent to or protruding into the main current can be a significant snagging hazard.

                                                                                    Snoqualmie River

Many old projects like this one on the outside of a bend on the Snoqualmie remain dangrous.  The current passes through the rootwads before turning right against the bank.  Anyone in the river is subject to being swept into the rootwads. 

Snoqualmie River

The 20-year old woman who drowned on this structure had inner tubed the river many times and was wearing a life jacket.

 Sol Duc River

This highway department log structure on the outside of a bend on the Sol Duc River is the only one known to have caused death in Washington State.