CADDO VALLEY, Arkansas — A portion of the Caddo River that is regionally popular among “river rats” will be closed to the public Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Caddo River Rats announced on social media that its customers will not be allowed to float the river on Saturday, and that River Rats will be closed due to rescue training on the river.

The announcement comes ahead of a statewide training event that will take place on DeGray Lake and the Caddo River.

The decision to close the river to floaters was made out of concerns for safety while fire departments conduct training on simulated water emergency scenarios.

“They will be doing basic boat operations,” said Tate Chanler, director of the Clark County Office of Emergency Management. River training scenarios will include victim-in-the-water rescues, victim-in-a-tree rescues, victim-stranded-on-a-pillar and a serpentine course.