Local marine units have reported several recent water rescues due to unpredictable river conditions.

In late September, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit responded to a couple stranded on the Alafia River near Lithia Springs Park after they found themselves completely unable to paddle their canoe against a powerful current.

Earlier in the month, a similar emergency occurred near Morris Bridge Park on the Hillsborough River where two boaters had to be rescued from a tree limb after their watercraft capsized in the swift downriver flow. Authorities strongly emphasize monitoring water levels and currents before launching.