MADISON, WI- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding boaters to wear life jackets, do not operate a boat while under the influence, and be aware of water species when boating this weekend.
Life Jackets Are A Top Safety Tip For Boating And Exploring Shorelines
Wardens and authorities say their unified goal is to highlight the importance of wearing life jackets and how to be safe while having fun. There are many styles and sizes of life jackets, making them comfortable for any outdoor activity. Authorities say putting a life jacket on a child looking to play in the sand near the water is a must.
“Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when venturing out on the water,” Dombrowski said. “Wearing one just might save your life.”
The sad truth is that most drowning victims on Wisconsin waterbodies were not wearing life jackets. Wisconsin rivers are safe and family-friendly places to spend a summer day or a few days, but safety and respect for the water should always be on your mind.
Life jackets will keep you on top of the water if you walk off an unexpected drop-off, a current overpowers you or you fall out of a boat. Putting on a life jacket before wading, playing along shores or getting in a boat gets you ready to focus on the fun.
Sandbars Are Not Permanent
Wardens and authorities say a river’s flow is always rearranging sandbars – which are not permanent islands. The water moves the sand, thereby strengthening and weakening these temporary islands.
That means a sandbar may hide a steep drop-off or a deep hole into the rapid current below. The best safety tip is to assume a sandbar cannot support a person’s weight.
Currents Can Overpower A Person Of Any Size
Authorities say a river’s current often is not easily noticeable to the person standing on the shore or even wading at the edge. However, it can be strong enough to overpower a person and make even the strongest of swimmers unable to swim against it.
Get your life jacket and plan your summer fun with recreational boating, paddling and swimming. For more information about portable flotation devices, visit the DNR’s PFD webpage.
Boaters and paddlers enjoying Wisconsin’s waters during the Fourth of July weekend will see more state conservation wardens and local boat patrols spreading education and enforcing the state’s safe boating laws as part of the annual national Operation Dry Water.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Bureau of Law Enforcement will join local law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators to help keep Wisconsin’s water safe this holiday weekend.
Launched in 2009, Operation Dry Water is an awareness and enforcement campaign to educate boaters about the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. Held annually during the popular Fourth of July holiday, the campaign is not limited to these few days.
Alcohol Use A Leading Factor In Boating Deaths
“Alcohol use continues to be a leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths and a leading contributor in boating accidents,” said Capt. April Dombrowski, of the DNR Bureau of Law Enforcement Recreation Safety and Outdoor Skills Section. “The mission of Operation Dry Water is a year-round theme to keep all waters safe for all enjoying being on Wisconsin’s many waters. This also means avoiding alcohol or other drug use prior to and while boating.”
A boat operator or passenger with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit runs a significantly increased risk of being involved in a boating accident. When impaired by alcohol, boating accidents are more likely and deadlier for both passengers and boat operators, many of whom capsize their vessel or fall overboard.
Boaters should take a boating safety education course before getting on the water and everyone on board should always wear a life jacket while near or on the water. “We want all boaters to enjoy their time on the water in a way that allows everyone to return home safely,” Dombrowski said.
Impaired Boat Operators Will Be Removed
Outreach partners and volunteers will be out on the water and at marinas during Operation Dry Water, working collaboratively with law enforcement to educate boaters about safe boating practices. Law enforcement also will be detecting and removing impaired operators from the water. No matter where you are boating, it is illegal to operate a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In 2019, Wisconsin DNR officers contacted 2,410 vessels, 6,801 boaters, issued 202 boating citations and removed 25 impaired boaters from the water. For the 2019 calendar year, 254 citations were issued for alcohol violations statewide. In 2019, there were 82 reportable boat incidents, 50 people injured and nine fatalities.
Boaters can learn more about boating under the influence by visiting operationdrywater.org. Operation Dry Water is coordinated nationally by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Wisconsin residents and visitors that are passionate about protecting waters from aquatic invasive species know the impact they can have on state waters and native species. For nearly 15 years Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) boat inspectors and educators have met boaters at lake and river launches to remind them that by taking simple preventative steps, they play a vital role. This summer, hundreds of launches will be staffed as usual by these friendly folks in their blue CBCW T-shirts, but most will also have on a cloth CBCW mask and maintain physical distancing.
“We know that the prevention guidance of inspect, remove, drain, never move is effective at preventing the spread of invasive aquatic plants and animals,” said Erin McFarlane, the Statewide CBCW Educator with the University of Wisconsin-Extension Lakes Program. “Taking a minute or two to remove all the plants, animals, mud and debris from your boat and trailer while draining water from the bilge and live well is all it takes to prevent a new invasive species from establishing in your favorite lake or river.”
Surveys of Wisconsin boaters and anglers show that most boaters perform these actions nearly every time they are on the water. However, infrequent boaters may not be aware of the prevention steps and even frequent boaters might forget. McFarlane notes that if CBCW staff are not at a launch, boaters can support each other by modeling good prevention behavior.
“Every boater and angler have a role to play in protecting our lakes and rivers,” she said. “We’re thankful for people currently doing their part.”
There are some changes to the special CBCW campaigns. Ice packs are normally offered to anglers and boaters in early June during the Drain Campaign to remind anglers to drain all water out of livewells and buckets before leaving the launch area. Similarly, boat towels with the “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!” campaign logo are typically given out during the annual Landing Blitz held during the week of July Fourth. For the health of the boat inspectors and the public they interact with, program coordinators are recommending that these free reminders not be given out this summer.
The campaigns have been merged and will take place statewide from now through July 5. Boat inspectors will still share the AIS prevention message and help boaters learn where to look for hidden invasive species on their watercraft and equipment while following safety guidelines to keep themselves and the public safe. Participation in CBCW inspections is voluntary and can take place unless the launch is in an area where local restrictions or personal safety concerns prevent it.
For the second year, Wisconsin’s campaigns are aligned with the Great Lakes Region Landing Blitz in all the Great Lakes states and provinces. Many are setting up virtual events. Check out the Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz here: www.glc.org/work/blitz
Lastly, remember:
- Inspect boats, trailers and equipment for attached aquatic plants or animals.
- Remove all attached plants or animals
- Drain all water from boats, motors, livewells and other equipment
- Never move live fish away from a waterbody
- Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash
- Buy minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer
- Only use leftover minnows when either 1) fishing with them on the same body of water or 2) on other waters if no lake/river water or other fish have been added to the container.
Following these steps helps boaters comply with Wisconsin state law, which prohibits the transport of aquatic invasive species. To learn more about invasive species and their impacts to Wisconsin’s waters and economy, visit dnr.wi.gov and search “Invasive Species.”
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