Perilous stretch of Snoqualmie River is closed

A section of the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River was officially closed to floating, swimming and boating Wednesday by the King County sheriff.

The area includes a section known as the Blue Hole, where a 15-year-old North Bend girl, Tess Sollitto, drowned Monday. Two 19-year-old women also were rescued after being trapped by trees in the river about two hours later.

The closed area on the Snoqualmie River extends from the Blue Hole, which is on the eastern edge of North Bend at Southeast 114th Street, downstream to about Southeast 108th Street.

Sheriff Sue Rahr said she was taking the action because of high, fast water and several trees in the river. The trees are known as "strainers," because rushing water flows in and under the branches and trunk, making it easy for unsuspecting people in the river to be pulled underneath.

The sheriff's Marine Unit posted "River Closed" signs. Rahr took the action under a law that allows her to close sections of rivers to recreation in the interest of life safety and property protection.

King County health officials also issued a warning Wednesday about the hazards of swift-running rivers.

Dorothy Teeter, interim director of Public Health — Seattle & King County, said in a news release that it's not safe to be swimming in local rivers, even while wearing a lifejacket.

The advisory also warned inexperienced rafters, kayakers and canoeists not to use the rivers because of the current conditions.

The county urged boaters to scout the condition of a river before beginning and to wear lifejackets.