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The Daggett County Sheriff's Office, citing increased flows from the Flaming Gorge Dam, has issued a warning to water recreationists on the Green River.

Sheriff Jerry Jorgensen on Thursday noted that river flows below the dam currently are at 8,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) after the Bureau of Reclamation opened bypass jet valves to lower excess water storage.

Jorgensen said that his deputies and the county's search and rescue volunteers had been called out to four rescues involving 24 people over the past two weeks. In two of those rescues, victims were seriously injured: one having to be flown out by medical helicopter after almost drowning, and another being treated for hypothermia.

"The river is flowing fast and high making it complicated to canoes and kayaks, and challenging to rafters. Please use extreme caution, wear life jackets, and obey all warnings and restrictions," the sheriff stated.

The increased flow is expected through the end of this month, then will gradually taper off through July.

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