TRRA Spring Safety Guide (2026)
- Aodhán Ridenour
- 20 hours ago
- 6 min read
Welcome back to the river! Use this guide to prepare for the season — bookmark it, share it, and check back as needed.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Conditions Change Quickly
Spring on the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio is beautiful: Herons, happy geese, humans in speedboats. . . It’s also unpredictable. As ice melts, debris flows, and runoff raises water levels fast, conditions that look manageable in the morning can shift significantly by afternoon.
Before every outing, check the Safety Matrix on the TRRA website — your real-time gauge for water levels, flow, temperature, and air quality. These aren’t just links for coaches. Everyone on the water is responsible for knowing the conditions.
Note: Spring is generally the most dangerous season due to higher flow rates. Be extra careful.
Key resources on the Safety Matrix page (use these tools consistently):
• Hourly temperature and wind speed
• Water flow and stage (Sharpsburg and Pittsburgh Point gauges)
• Water temperature
• Pittsburgh air quality monitor
• Daylight hours (Safety Matrix Appendices — take a few minutes to re-familiarize yourself each season)
Also recommended: We use the WeatherBug app for lightning conditions and radar.
Flood Levels — Washington’s Landing Campus
Keep an eye on gauge reports during high-water periods. If you have equipment on lower racks, plan accordingly.
• 23 ft — Water enters the lower bays (beneath the parking lot)
• 26 ft — Reaches approximately the first rack in the lower bays; pavement in front of the upper bays (college bays & sculling bay) begins to breach
• 27 ft — Water reaches the entrance of the upper bays
• 28 ft — Upper bays breach
Zone 5 — Additional Requirements
| Prior to going out in Zone 5, all of the following apply: • Meet with the Executive Director and receive a letter acknowledging Zone 5 factors and confirming skill level • Minimum of 2 hours on the water in the prior 5 days before the outing • Zone 5 during daylight hours only • Prohibited in the face of whitecaps |
REQUIRED FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
Your Safety Checklist for the Season
All participants in TRRA activities longer than three days must complete the following. If any of these are overdue, now is the time.
#1 — Watch the Safety Videos (Annual)
Complete the USRowing Safety Video and read the TRRA Safety Protocols and Procedures document. Paddlers should also review the Dragon Boat Guideline for Emergencies. The Spring Safety Meeting video and confirmation form are also available on the safety requirements page — please complete both. Take a moment to re-familiarize yourself with the Safety Matrix Appendices, including daylight hours.
#2 — Renew Your USRowing Membership (Annual)
TRRA is a USRowing-insured organization, and active membership is required for all participants. TRRA Club Code: 7W4PQ. During registration, make sure your Self-Attestation final answer is set to YES — this is required given our shared facilities. If your profile says “Self Attest, Not Required,” please update it. Register HERE.
#3 — Complete SafeSport Training (Annual)
This 90-minute core training (or 30-minute refresher) is free and mandatory. Access it through your USRowing profile. Please finish within two weeks of starting activities at TRRA. There is no opt-out.
#4 — Register in iCrew
iCrew is our member management and fleet system. Once your registration is complete, reach out to kimthomson@threeriversrowing.org for a signup link. Adult Learn to Row Participants: You will get a dedicated link to your Block — no need to reach out separately.
#5 — Swim Test on File
All on-the-water participants must have a current swim test on file. Tests are valid as long as your ability to perform the required skills hasn’t changed. Download the form and have it completed by a certified lifeguard or swim instructor at a pool where you cannot touch the bottom. A list of suggested pools is available HERE.
EVERY SESSION
On-the-Water Rules & Best Practices
Lights
If you’re on the water before sunrise or after sunset, bow and stern lights are required on the shell. Any coaching launch operating in the dark must also carry a spotlight. No exceptions.
Visibility
The bow and stern person must have high-visibility gear above the waist at all times.
Traffic & Right-of-Way
• Follow the right-hand rule during normal training sessions.
• Know the traffic pattern and identify pinch points between programs — reach out to coaches for situational awareness.
• Faster boats have the right of way; however, it is the responsibility of the faster boat to move around slower boats.
• Stay at least 50 feet away from marinas to avoid recreational boats. Higher flow rates mean faster-moving vessels.
Equipment Checks
• Check all nuts, bolts, and slides each time you put the shoes in.
• Check again when putting the boat away for the next team using it.
• Report damage immediately via iCrew. The boatyard is a high-risk area with equipment and people — exercise a high level of situational awareness.
Know Your Waterway
Be aware of hazards such as low water, ropes, barge ports, marinas, log-landmarks, and other boats. Constantly check your point to make sure you are not about to hit something or someone.
Review the 3D Course Flyover video as a useful orientation resource.
The Practice Plan
Share a practice plan with someone on land prior to launching. A good plan includes:
• Your contingencies — know where you’d go to shore
• Who else is on the water — reach out to coaches for situational awareness
• The traffic pattern and pinch points between programs
Logbook Scullers
Sculling without a coach present requires a completed certification demonstrating single shell competency and knowledge of river traffic rules. To schedule your assessment, contact any sculling instructor through the private lesson page.
Those wishing to bow team boats without a coach will additionally need Bow Certification (Crew Leader). Full checklists and overview documents are available on the certifications page.
EARLY SEASON HAZARD
Cold Water
Water temperatures in early spring are dangerously cold. Cold water shock can affect even strong swimmers. Please use extra caution — dress appropriately, be conservative with conditions, and always let someone know your plan. Note that hypothermia can occur even without full immersion.
The three stages of cold water danger:
• Cold Shock — The first instinct is a big involuntary gasp. Take a moment to calm yourself and listen to those in charge.
• Cold Incapacitation — Loss of use of fingers, arms, and legs follows quickly. When in doubt, stay in your boat.
• Hypothermia — Unconsciousness can set in after approximately one hour. This can occur even without being fully in the water.
Further reading: Cold Water Awareness (CSBC)
| Bring extra gear to every session. Layers to take off or put on can make a meaningful difference in early-season conditions. |
WHEN IT MATTERS MOST
Have a Plan
If something goes wrong, make sure someone in your group (or you) has a cell phone. Know who you’re going to call — and how to communicate clearly and quickly.
| Calling 911 from the Water Be brief and clear. Always specify that you need river rescue and Coast Guard support. Know your campus location before you need it. Some calls are both safety-related and time-sensitive. |
First Aid & AEDs
Each campus is equipped with First Aid Kits and AEDs. Know where they are before you need them.
Washington’s Landing — Erg Room (First Aid and AED)
Washington’s Landing — Repair Bay (First Aid and AED)
Washington’s Landing — Lounge below trophy cases (tackle boxes)
Millvale Training Facility — Second Floor Hallway near backdoor
Millvale Training Facility — First Floor in Tank Room on spine that separates tanks
Millvale Training Facility — Waterside bay of boat shed
Millvale Training Facility — First Aid in Kitchen
Black Boxes in each Launch contains First Aid Kit
*Incident Reports*
Incident reports can be filed via iCrew. Please be detailed and educational — the goal is to minimize the chances of the incident happening again. Reporting is not punitive.
"We’re in good shape as a community when everyone is informed, prepared, and looking out for each other. We’re looking forward to a great season on the water."
Questions? Reach out anytime.
FULL SAFETY RESOURCES
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