NDOW Says “Don’t Put That Boat Away Just Yet”
September 12, 2008
Just as Memorial Day marks the official beginning of the annual boating season on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, Labor Day marks the official ending. With their children heading back to school, many boaters put their boats away for the year. But that could be a big mistake.
“Some of the best boating water of the year is available right now. Boaters who put their boats away too early are really missing out,” said Nick Duhe, boating education coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. “The water temperature is still reasonably warm, daytime temperatures are comfortable, the summer winds are gone and there is very little boating traffic.”
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org
.
Related posts
Safety First For Fourth of July Boaters
June 25, 2008
LITTLE ROCK - Family picnics, fireworks and being on the water all are things associated with the Fourth of July. One more thing should be added to that list – safety. According to Bob Cushing, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Boating Education Program coordinator, this is one of the busiest and most dangerous times on the water.
“Thousands of people hit the water on the Fourth for a day in the sun and fireworks displays, but many do so without fully preparing for the trip,” Cushing said. “The most important piece of safety equipment is a life jacket. More specifically, there should be a properly fitting life jacket for everyone on board. By law, all children 12 and under must have their life jacket secured any time they are on the boat, but everyone should wear them any time a boat is underway.”
According to Stephanie Weatherington of the AGFC Enforcement Division, life jackets aren’t the only items a boater needs to check while preparing for a day on the water.
“Prior to going out on the water, boaters need to check their navigation lights,” she said. “People are out watching fireworks displays at night, and do not think about needing lights until it is dark. Always take a spotlight or flashlight, just in case.”
- Before going out on the water, check your navigation lights, fire extinguisher and safety gear.
- Wear a life jacket.
- Pay attention to other boaters.
- Don’t drink and operate a boat. If there is going to be drinking, make sure there is a designated driver. Officers will be out in force.
- Lakes will be crowded. Slow down and be cautious.
Boating education class schedule
Click here for boating education information: http://www.agfc.com/education-class/boating-education.aspx
Related posts
Safe Boating for this Fourth of July and Throughout the Summer
June 23, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. (June 23, 2008)– With summer officially here and the Fourth of July holiday a couple of weeks away, more Tar Heel residents and visitors will be enjoying recreational boating, including after sunset.
Officers with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will patrol waterways across the state throughout the summer, with an emphasis on holiday traffic. They list the following areas of concern:
- Boating While Impaired
A blood-alcohol level of .08 is legally intoxicated for vessel operators. The law also allows an operator to be charged if appreciably impaired, regardless of blood-alcohol level. Exposure to wind and waves, combined with heat, motor noise and vibrations can create a condition known as boater fatigue, in which the effects of alcohol can be magnified up to three times. - Night-Time Boating
Boating at night requires extra caution and observation. Visibility is reduced and special inland lighting rules are in effect for navigation. Water skiing is prohibited between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise. Personal watercraft, also known as jet skis and wave runners, are prohibited on state waters between sunset and sunrise. - Children Must Wear Life Vests
North Carolina law requires children younger than 13 to wear an appropriate life vest whenever they are on a recreational vessel that is underway. The life vest must be the proper size and have a U.S. Coast Guard approved label. It must be a correct fit also, with youth sizes corresponding to weight ranges. Make sure it is snug but comfortable.
Click here for important recreational boating information, including the Vessel Operator’s Guide, a safe boating checklist and how to enroll in a free boating education course, or call (919) 707-0031.
Related posts
Henry, Lee Counties, Skunk River in Washington County Closed to Recreational Boating
June 17, 2008
DES MOINES — Recreational boating is now prohibited on rivers and streams in Henry County and in the Skunk River in Washington County. Similar bans are also in place in Lee County and the Mississippi River from mile marker 169 to 482.9, an area from Rock Island, Ill., to St. Louis, by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Meanwhile, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is continuing to advise boaters, kayakers and canoeists to avoid boating on rivers and flood control reservoirs until water levels return to a more normal level.
“High water, especially at the level we are seeing in many places, is dangerous for boaters and paddlers, regardless of the skill level,” said Susan Stocker, boating education coordinator with the Iowa DNR. “There is more to the dangers than the debris you can see. Much of it lies just under the surface or is mixed in with the water from what was flooded upstream.”
“People who boat on floodwater not only put themselves at risk, but they put the people who would have to rescue them at risk. It is best to wait until water levels drop before going boating,” Stocker said.
Related posts
KDWP Boating Program Awarded Grant For Youth Efforts
June 12, 2008
Variety of promotional events in planning stage
PRATT — The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, has announced that the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ Boating Education Program has been selected as a 2008/2009 National Recreation and Park Association Take Me Fishing™ Anchor Agency. As one of 30 Anchor Agencies selected, KDWP’s efforts will serve as the foundation for park and recreation agencies and youth serving organizations to take leadership roles and ensure that recreational boating and fishing are sustained across the state of Kansas.
KDWP’s Boating Education Program will receive a grant of $10,000 to enhance existing recreational boating and fishing programs available to the youth of Kansas. Projects will include giving away free life jackets, fishing clinics, community events and festivals, and classroom programs. Events will be at the KDWP Boating website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/boating, as they are scheduled and also on the RBFF website at www.takemefishing.org/community/programs-and-events/events-home.
Related posts
Game Wardens Report Kids Not Wearing Life Jackets
June 3, 2008
Despite a law mandating life jacket wear for kids, Nevada game wardens are reporting a disturbing trend on local waterways. Many children are not wearing life jackets while boating. The law was changed early this year upping the age requirement by one year, and now all children under the age of 13 years are required to wear life jackets while underway on a boat.
“We only have anecdotal information on this issue right now,” said Lieutenant David Pfiffner, the supervising game warden on Lake Mead. “But we issued enough citations over the holiday weekend that we want to again emphasize how important life jackets are, particularly to this vulnerable population.”
Over the Memorial Day weekend, traditionally the kickoff to boating season, game wardens issued at least 11 tickets for kids not wearing life jackets, alarming wardens and other boating officers who patrol and enforce state law. “Kids can drown in a second, so we really want to encourage parents to make sure their children have life jackets and are wearing them,” said Pfiffner. People who ride Personal Watercraft (PWCs) and people who are towed behind a boat are also required to wear life jackets, he said.
Besides life jacket wear, game wardens also remind boaters that people born on or after January 1, 1983 must take a boating education course to operate a motorboat of more than 15 horsepower on Lakes Mead and Mohave and on the Colorado River near Laughlin.
The boating education correspondence course can be ordered online at www.ndow.org. Boaters can also choose to take it online at this address as well. There are also several other organizations, such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, that offer safe boating courses.
“People really should take the course, even if it is not required,” said Captain Fred Messmann, Nevada’s boating law administrator. “Our statistics clearly show that people who take a boating course get in fewer accidents. Taking a course can even save boaters money on their insurance.”
Even if a boater is not required to wear a life jacket or take a boating course, both of these safety tips are great precautions for a safe boating trip. “People don’t think about life jackets or a boating course until they get into trouble on the lake,” said Pfiffner. “We could avoid a lot of accidents and fatalities if boaters would take a few precautions ahead of time.”
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.
Related posts
Personal Watercraft Require Attentive and Knowledgeable Operators
May 31, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. - Propelled by jets of water, personal watercraft are fast and easy to maneuver, which is a large part of their appeal – and their potential danger.
“You need to know how your personal watercraft works and the regulations that apply to its ownership and operation before you get on it,” said Capt. Chris Huebner, the state’s boating safety coordinator. “Any maneuver that endangers people or property constitutes reckless operation and is breaking the law.”
Reckless operation, lack of proper safety equipment and exceeding capacity are the most frequently cited violations for personal watercraft operators in North Carolina. Another common violation is underage operators. State law restricts anyone younger than 16 from operating a personal watercraft unless:
- They are at least 14 years old and riding with a person who is at least 18.
- They are at least 14 years old and have successfully completed an approved boating safety education course, and have proof of age and safety course completion with them while operating the personal watercraft.
“It is also against the law to knowingly let anyone younger than 16 operate a personal watercraft who doesn’t meet those qualifications,” Capt. Huebner added.
For more information on operating a personal watercraft in North Carolina, click here or call (919) 707-0031.
To enroll in a free N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission-sponsored Boating Education Course, click here or call (919) 707-0031.
Related posts
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Boater Education Saves Lives
May 22, 2008
Frankfort, Ky. – Summer brings thousands of boaters to Kentucky’s waterways. Boating in Kentucky is a growing attraction for tourists, as well as a popular way for families to enjoy vacation time together. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources encourages every boater to stay safe on the water. The department’s boater education program is a great place to start.
“Boater education is a one-time opportunity to go in there and learn the basic do’s and don’ts,” said Sgt. John Anderson, boating education coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “It gives people the information they need to boat safely, to have the fun they’re going after and to live safely to tell about it.”
Kentucky law requires boaters ages 12 to 17 to take an approved boater education course before they can operate any boat greater than 10 horsepower. But taking the course is a good idea even if you are not required to do so.
“Boats can be a whole lot bigger and faster than they used to be,” said Anderson. “We have a lot more of them now – but we have the same amount of water.”
The result is challenging conditions for boaters – congested areas around marinas, other boaters zipping by at high speed, and inexperienced operators driving more powerful boats. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s law enforcement division handles nearly 100 boating accident investigations each year. On average, 13 of these incidents involve boating fatalities. Boater education is proven to lower those numbers.
According to U.S. Coast Guard and National Association of State Boating Law Administrators reports, states with the longest history of boater education have the lowest average fatality rates. Kentucky’s alcohol-related boating fatality rate, however, is twice the national average. Kentucky ranks 28th in the nation for number of registered boats, with 186,000 in 2007. Yet the state ranks 8th in the nation for boating fatalities. To make Kentucky boaters safer, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife began phasing in mandatory boater education in 1998.
“Since 1998, we’ve trained about 2,000 young boaters a year,” said Anderson. “Knowledge is power – and this can be the power of life over death. That’s something parents can understand.”
Boating safety courses cover boat identification, safe boat operation, the importance of personal floatation devices and other safety equipment, Kentucky boating regulations and more. Statistically, boaters who take the course are less likely to have an accident than uneducated boaters.
“We know that uneducated boaters are by far more dangerous than educated boaters,” said Anderson. Seventy percent of boat fatalities involve an operator who had not received boater education.
Even if you have spent years on the water, don’t assume you know everything about boating safety. “Education and experience are not necessarily synonymous,” said Anderson.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife introduced legislation this year that would have made boater education mandatory for all boaters born on or after January 1, 1990. The legislation did not pass the Kentucky General Assembly. However, a provision that would require mandatory boater education in all states recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives. If the U.S. Senate passes the bill and it is signed into law, Kentucky will be required to comply.
A schedule of free classroom boater education courses is available at fw.ky.gov. Online courses are also available for a $15 fee.
Related posts
IDNR Reminds Boaters and Anglers to Practice Safety as Weather Warms in Illinois
May 6, 2008
Public urged to take boating safety class before heading out on the water
SPRINGFIELD –Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is urging boaters and anglers to be safe while on the water this spring and summer. The Agency is also reminding boaters about the benefits to signing up for a boating safety class offered through the IDNR.
“Safety education courses are a key to the Illinois’ boating safety effort. Nationwide, nearly 90 percent of all reported fatalities on boats involved boat operators who had not received boating safety instruction,” said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood.
Statistics compiled by the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement show that 13 people died and 57 were injured in boating-related accidents on Illinois waters in 2007. That is down slightly from 2006 when there were 17 fatalities and 66 injuries in boating-related accidents.
Of the 13 fatalities in 2007, 10 may have survived had Personal Flotation Devices (PDF’s) been worn.
The leading type of accidents involving fatalities were collisions with a fixed object and flooding/swamping of a vessel. As is usually the case, most fatalities occurred on clear, sunny days with mild winds and good visibility. Alcohol use along with operator inattention or carelessness remains a major cause of fatalities.
In 2007, operators between the ages of 20 and 59 were involved in 74% boating accidents and 38% of those involved at least one fatality.
According to a 2006 study by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, those states that have the longest history of boating education requirements also have the lowest average fatality rates of all the states.
Illinois has the fourth longest history of boating education requirements in the U.S. at 29 years. Four other states have had boating education requirements in place for more than 20 years – New York, with 47 years; Michigan, with 40 years; Minnesota with 32 years; and North Dakota with 22 years.
“While specific circumstances are different, nearly every boating accident investigation we do has a common denominator…that the accident could have been avoided had safety been the focus,” said IDNR Chief of Law enforcement Rafael Gutierrez.
People between 12-18 years of age who operate a motorized watercraft by themselves are required by law to possess a boating safety certificate. State law also requires that anyone under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket while aboard any watercraft under 26 feet in length at all times the boat is underway, unless they are below deck in an enclosed cabin or operating on private property. And all persons, regardless of age, are required to wear a life jacket while operating a personal watercraft or jet ski.
Safety course schedules are available on the IDNR web site at www.dnr.state.il.us/SAFETY/boat.htm. Illinois also offers an online boat safety education course through the IDNR web site. There is a $15 fee charged for the online course.
Related posts
Clean Vessel Act Grant Program Awards More Than $700,000 to Five Midwest States
May 6, 2008
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall announced that more than $700,000 from the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grant program will be awarded to five states in the Midwest region in 2008. The grant program awarded a total of more than $13.6 million to 27 states across the nation. The grants will fund the construction and installation of sewage pumpout facilities, floating restrooms and pumpout boats in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Funding will also create recreational boating education programs across the region.
“The Midwest Region is known for its beautiful lakes and waterways. The Clean Vessel Act grants help us work in coordination with our state partners to keep these waters clean for fish and wildlife, and for the continued enjoyment of recreational boaters,” said Regional Director Robyn Thorson.
Since the CVA grant program’s inception in the early 1990s, it has awarded states nearly $150 million to install thousands of sewage pumpout stations. Many states now rely upon mobile sewage pumpout boats to make the sewage collection process more efficient and convenient. Several states have begun installing floating restrooms and pumpout stations in high-use lakes and coastal areas.
Funding for the program (Code of Federal Domestic Grants number 15.616) comes from the Sport Fishing and Boating Trust Fund, formerly known as the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, which is supported by excise taxes on certain fishing and boating equipment and boat fuels.
Grant awards in the Midwest Region include:
Illinois: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will receive $100,000 to install up to five sewage pumpout stations throughout the state dependent upon the requests and needs of the state’s marina operators.
Indiana: The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will receive $177,444 to install up to eight sewage pumpout stations throughout the state and to continue efforts to inform boaters about the importance of proper disposal of sewage.
Minnesota: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will receive $149,034 to install three sewage pumpout stations at marinas throughout the state.
Ohio: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Watercraft will receive $260,325 to install sewage pumpout facilities at six locations throughout the state.
Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will receive $105,000 to install new sewage pumpout stations at several marinas on the state’s Great Lakes and inland waters.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.
Recent Comments