Boaters should be aware that area lakes — in particular Lake Washington — could be “extremely hazardous for the near future,” the King County Sheriff’s Department said last week.

High rivers have washed an unusual number of logs, deadheads, stumps and other debris into area lakes this spring, the department said through a news release.

Two rivers empty into Lake Washington: the Cedar River flows into the south end in Renton and the Sammamish River (also known as the “Slough”) empties into the north end of the lake.

The extra debris this year means added danger to water skiers, inner tubers, jet skis and to boats. The hazards can float on, or even just below, the surface, virtually unseen.

Lakefront owners who have logs and other debris drift in are asked to throw a rope on the hazard to prevent it causing damage or returning to open water.