River rescues, particularly those that necessitate rescuers going into the water to effect the rescue, are extremely hazardous operations and require specialized training and equipment. The San Diego Lifeguard Service established it's river rescue team in 1978 to respond to emergencies created by flooding. It is the task of the team to rescue persons or property threatened, surrounded or entrapped by stationary or moving water. In addition to their local responsibilities, the team is assigned to Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 8 as a member of the flood rescue component.

The San Diego River Rescue Team is comprised of ten full-time lifeguards who must meet the following minimum qualifications to apply for the position on the team; Swiftwater Rescue technician I and II (a majority of the team are SRT instructors); Rescue Systems I; Vertical Cliff Rescue; SCUBA; Class B Driver's License; Marine Firefighting; Certified by San Diego Lifeguard Service as an In-surf Personal Watercraft Operator, hard hull and inflatable boats; and, meet swimming standards set by the Service.

Once selected to the Team, members receive additional training which includes; the operation of personal watercraft in the swiftwater environment, hard hull and inflatable boats in the swiftwater environment, cross training with the Coast Guard and Sheriff's Department helicopters in aquatic operations and an annual seven day swiftwater rescue class.

During its existence, the Team has been called upon to perform hundreds of rescues throughout the San Diego region. In 1993 alone, the Team rescued over 195 people trapped or threatened by flood waters. The Team has received commendations from the San Diego City Council, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, the Governor of California and was awarded the Higgins and Langley Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Rescue by the National Association for Search and Rescue.

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