Due to swift and extremely dangerous water levels in the St. John’s and Kings Rivers in Tulare County, Sheriff Mike Boudreaux has issued an Order to close both rivers, including waterways, banks, and beaches. This Order is for ALL purposes, including recreational and commercial use.
Emergency personnel, as well as private property owners along the river who are securing their property from levee breaches, are exempt from the Order. The Order does also not include the St. John’s River Trail, also know as the St. John’s Riverwalk.
Sheriff Boudreaux is urging people to stay clear of the river areas and to avoid getting near the waterways.
The Kings River will be closed from the Tulare/ Fresno County Line,, west of Avenue 428, to the Tulare/ Kings County Line, east of Avenue 384.
The St. John’s River will be closed from Mckays Point, west of Road 236, to where the St. Johns turns into Cross Creek to the Tulare/ Kings County Line at Ave 1.
For additional resources or information, please call 559-802-9791 or refer to the County of Tulare website emergencies page: TulareCounty.ca.gov/emergencies.
Follow these general safety tips around flooded:
• Never drive into flood waters, as they are deeper, colder and faster-moving than they appear
• Do not operate electrical equipment in standing water