For a while now, operators of small craft on the Arkansas River have been under a small craft advisory. The advisory, released by the Army Corps of Engineers, was in response to high water flows on that river. The Army Corps of Engineers will release an advisory whenever the flows exceed 70,000 cubic feet per second. These flow conditions can be extremely dangerous and hazardous. Should the area experience several days of heavy rains, it’s possible that this advisory would be reinstated.

It’s important to understand exactly what this kind of advisory entails. A small craft advisory is often issued by the National Weather Service in coastal areas. The particular conditions required to create an advisory can vary from one area to the next, and the NWS criteria can be found at their website. Obviously the Army Corps of Engineers will also issue advisories, typically on inland rivers and lakes that aren’t covered by the National Weather Service.

Generally speaking, a small craft advisory can also be issued when there are high winds instead of or in addition to fast water flows. High winds of more than around 25 to 38 miles per hour are generally the criteria. These winds are not quite up to gale force winds, but hit forces 6 and 7 on the Beaufort scale, which measures wind speeds.

There is no standard or official definition of what exactly constitutes a small watercraft. An informal rule of thumb suggests that boats shorter than 33 feet in length fall into this category. That 33-feet rule is the Coast Guard’s informal standard, although most other organizations follow the same metric.

The flag insignia that indicate a small craft advisory is a red triangular flag. The flag insignia for gale force winds is two red triangular flags placed one above the other.

Any time you’re going to take a small craft out on the water, you should make sure to check flow conditions as well as wind conditions. You can check for advisories and other information on the Arkansas River by checking out the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District website, located at http://www.swl.usace.army.mil. From that page, click the button labeled “water management” to find river conditions.

You should also make sure you have sufficient boat insurance to cover your investment in the event of an accident.

Finally, make sure you’re following basic boating safety procedures. Wear your life jacket. Don’t operate the water craft if you’re drinking. Give towboats a wide berth, as they’re not nearly as maneuverable as your small watercraft.