VIDEO: Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend, water rescue crews want to warn you about some new hazards in our rivers this year.
Capt. Craig DeGarlais with Eugene Springfield Fire said there's a large hazard on the McKenzie River behind Riverbend Hospital, where the river divides into three channels.
DeGarlais said the high waters from heavy rain and snow over the winter deposited multiple hazards to that area.
"We have multiple trees in this channel, with stumps attached to the tree still," DeGarlais said. "We have two trees entangled. We have a mountain of wood and items. This would definitely be a dangerous area to float through."
He said anytime you're on the river, you need to avoid all items in the water because you can end up trapped underneath. If you can't avoid it, do everything you can to get on top of it.