Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office River Patrol Unit and Partner Agencies Address Safety Concerns Along Sandy River

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MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. (May 20, 2026) – The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office River Patrol Unit is providing an update to its ongoing Sandy River safety advisory. 

Earlier this month, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office warned the public about numerous hazards, including a collection of fallen logs and a newly formed large sandbar, reported on the Sandy River between Oxbow Regional Park and Dabney State Recreation Area following a severe winter storm. 

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Oregon State Marine Board, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office installed two large “Danger, Stay Right” signs upstream of the hazard area. These signs are intended to give river users advance warning of the shifted current and debris field created by a December 2025 storm. 

In addition to signage installation, deputies and partner agencies recovered a submerged drift boat that had become lodged in the debris. The vessel will be returned to its owner if they are identified. An unusable kayak, damaged beyond repair, was also recovered. 

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office continues to urge river users to exercise heightened caution. As outlined in the original warning, the river’s primary channel has shifted to the west side of a wooded island south of Camp Angelos, where newly formed “strainers” and submerged hazards are creating dangerous conditions, including small rapids and strong pull toward debris. 

Recreational users should remain vigilant, wear lifejackets, avoid relying on outdated satellite imagery or GPS mapping, and be prepared for rapidly changing river conditions. 

To provide a visualization, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is releasing photographs of the affected area and new signage, which were taken May 19, 2026. 

A smiling Multnomah County Sheriff's Office deputy stands on a sandy riverbank next to a grey inflatable patrol boat marked "SHERIFF." The calm river is flanked by a dense forest, with a historic steel truss bridge visible in the background under a blue sky.
Image: A smiling Multnomah County Sheriff's Office deputy stands on a sandy riverbank next to a grey inflatable patrol boat marked "SHERIFF." The calm river is flanked by a dense forest, with a historic steel truss bridge visible in the background under a blue sky. 

 

A wide-angle shot shows law enforcement personnel and workers installing a large white and red sign that reads "DANGER KEEP RIGHT" on a rocky river island. Three motorized patrol boats are moored on the riverbank to the left against a backdrop of steep, tree-covered hills.
Image: A wide-angle shot shows law enforcement personnel and workers installing a large white and red sign that reads "DANGER KEEP RIGHT" on a rocky river island. Three motorized patrol boats are moored on the riverbank to the left against a backdrop of steep, tree-covered hills. 

 

A long shot captures an expansive gravel river bar where a prominent warning sign reading "DANGER KEEP RIGHT" has been installed near the water's edge. Two grey patrol boats are moored nearby on the shore, surrounded by a dense, rolling green forest under a cloudy sky.
Image: A long shot captures an expansive gravel river bar where a prominent warning sign reading "DANGER KEEP RIGHT" has been installed near the water's edge. Two grey patrol boats are moored nearby on the shore, surrounded by a dense, rolling green forest under a cloudy sky. 

 

A wide shot from a sandy bank shows several law enforcement members working from multiple grey patrol boats to salvage a submerged drift boat in a calm river. A MCSO deputy stands on the foreground shore monitoring the operation via a yellow tow line attached to the vessel.
Image: A wide shot from a sandy bank shows several law enforcement members working from multiple grey patrol boats to salvage a submerged drift boat in a calm river. A MCSO deputy stands on the foreground shore monitoring the operation via a yellow tow line attached to the vessel. 

 

Two crew members stand waist-deep in a river channel to secure and guide a recovered drift boat next to a stationary grey inflatable patrol boat. The background shows a large logjam and river debris along a gravel bar under a cloudy sky.
Image: Two crew members stand in a river channel to secure and guide a recovered drift boat next to a stationary grey inflatable patrol boat. The background shows a large logjam and river debris along a gravel bar under a cloudy sky. 

 

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