Fresno County Sheriff Announces Reopening of Kings River from Pine Flat Dam to Tulare and Kings County Lines to Recreational Users

August 2, 2023 - Fresno County Sheriff's Office officials report that affective Tuesday, August 1st, 2023, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is reopening the Kings River from Pine Flat Dam to the Tulare and Kings County lines. Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and Kings County Sheriff Dave Robinson have also reopened the Kings River in their respective counties. This means there are no restrictions for water activities.

County parks currently closed along both the Kings and San Joaquin Rivers will remain closed. This includes Avocado Lake, Choinumni, Winton, Laton Kingston, Lost Lake and Skaggs Bridge Parks. All parks contain several hazards and will require maintenance work to be performed before being accessible to visitors. A date of reopening has not been determined.

On March 14th, Sheriff John Zanoni issued an order to close the rivers due to the projection of large amounts of melting snow in the Sierra, creating life-threatening conditions. Water levels have since been reduced and have stabilized on the Kings River, creating safer conditions for the public to access it.

The Sheriff’s Office is extremely pleased with how well the overwhelming majority of the public cooperated with the rules set in place during the closure of the river. Although both the Kings and San Joaquin Rivers are now open, it is important to note that it remains extremely dangerous. People familiar with the river will notice different water patterns compared to years past. There are numerous downed trees, which create strainers. A strainer is where turbulent water flows through the tree. A person caught in a strainer can quickly find themselves pinned against the tree or even swept underneath it. It is extremely difficult to rescue yourself from a strainer and typically requires emergency help from trained rescue personnel. Please use good, safe judgement when entering the water. The temperature of the water is registering about 60°. Exposure to the cold water can cause hypothermia, which can quickly lead to exhaustion or unconsciousness. We ask that you take simple safety precautions while doing water activities such as: Wear a life jacket, invest in high quality boating equipment, stay out of the water if you’re not an experienced swimmer and do not mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol causes swimmers to become fatigued faster than normal and can create dangerous situations. Also, please keep an eye on your children at all times. In a matter of seconds, they can slip into the water and be put at risk for injury or death.

Source & photo: Fresno County Sheriff's Office