Operation Dry Water Targets Boating Under The Influence July 5-7

Next weekend be prepared to see a greater presence of educational materials and law enforcement on and near Lake Powell.

The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GCNRA) is participating in a national operation aimed at educating boaters about the dangers of boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The goal of the operation, named Operation Dry Water, is to reduce the number of alcohol and drug related accidents and fatalities on the water.

Operation Dry Water will begin July 5 and run through July 7.

Each day of the operation, you will see an increase of recreational boater outreach, education, and coordinated enforcement that encompasses boating while under the influence in waterways throughout the nation.

This year, the GCNRA is encouraging those who will be spending time on the water to always use safe boating practices while on the water.

In a press release, National Park Service Superintendent William Shott stated, “Recreational boating is an activity enjoyed by people and families nationwide. Our goal is to not only educate boaters on the dangers of drinking alcohol and boating, but also to remind them of other safe boating practices, such as enrolling in a boater education course and always wearing a life jacket”.

According to the GCNRA, during 2018’s Operation Dry Water weekend, 494 impaired boaters were apprehended across the country.

Just recently, on June 14, a Utah man was arrested on Lake Powell for boating while intoxicated, automobile homicide, and other charges, after the boat he was driving hit a rock ejecting one of the passengers, killing her. The accident occurred near buoy 97, located between Halls Crossing and Bullfrog.

Boating does not include just the operation of boats, but also includes any type of personal watercraft such as jet skis, paddle boards, canoes, and kayaks.

For more information on the laws of boating on Lake Powell, check out Title 5 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, Highlights from Utah's 2015 Boating Laws & Rules, and the U.S. Coast Guard's web site. Remember, while you are on Lake Powell, you travel between Arizona and Utah and need to know the boating laws of both states.

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