After several folks had to be rescued Monday on the James River in Richmond (click here for the story), it's probably a good time to remind you that you have to wear a life jacket if you swim in the James and the water level is higher than five feet. The water level was above five feet when the river rescues occurred.
So before you go for a refreshing dip in any river in Virginia this Summer, stay safe (and legal) by checking the river levels before you go. Here is a link to river level measurement sites across the Commonwealth: http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/?m=real&r=va&w=map
Mouse over any of the dots, and you'll see more information about that location on a river. Click on the dot for more detailed information, including graphs of water level rises and falls recently. Stay safe and check the levels before you swim!
--Carrie
