Cowichan River logjam poses safety hazard to tubers and swimmers

Cowichan Search and Rescue (CSAR) warned that a large logjam has built up on the Cowichan River just below Sandy Pool, growing significantly over the spring. The blockage, located less than one kilometre downstream of the popular take‑out point, creates a “significant hazard to tubers and all river users if they miss the Sandy Pool take‑out,” said CSAR President Trevor Paterson.

Logjams are a natural feature that support salmon and wildlife, but the current accumulation increases the risk of capsizing for people on tubes and other watercraft. CSAR advised river users to familiarize themselves with the river’s hazards and to ensure they know the exact location of the Sandy Pool exit. Removal of the jam is uncertain, as high water can sometimes break it apart, and the effort to clean it would be substantial.

The warning follows recent drowning statistics: seven of the nine drowning deaths on Central Vancouver Island in 2025 occurred on the Cowichan River, with a total of 17 drownings across the Island Health region that year.