Ga. wardens keeping an eye out for unsafe boating this weekend

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The unofficial start of summer is almost here, and officials are urging people to be careful on the water.

There will surely be a lot of people out on the water this Memorial Day weekend at Clarks Hill Lake and on the Savannah River.

So the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has a warning: The water can be deadly if you’re not careful.

One key message is to wear a life jacket when you’re out on the water.

This week is also National Safe Boating Week, and your First Alert Meteorologist Emily Acton and Chief Meteorologist Riley Hale met up with a local game warden to learn what you need to do to stay safe on the water.

“Our number one concern on the lake is everybody being safe. Got to be safe while you’re out here on the lake,” said Thomas Ledford, game warden with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

If you’re going to be on a boat, here is what your vessel needs before getting on the water.

“If they have a class one vessel, which is 16-foot or greater, we’re going to ask for life jackets for every person on board. We’re going to ask for a serviceable fire extinguisher and also a throwable device,” said Ledford.

AT THE LAKE

West Dam: Popular recreational area reopens

1. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ West Dam Day Use Area at Clarks Hill Lake is reopening Friday. The park is missing some amenities, such as tables and grills, that were damaged by Hurricane Helene, but it is now safe for visitors.
2. The reopening makes 40 of 51 Corps of Engineers recreation areas that have been at least partially reopened since Hurricane Helene hit in September 2024.
3. Debris and potential hazards remain in closed areas of parks, so visitors must use caution and refrain from entering closed areas.
4. To check the status of Army Corps facilities, visit https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil/visitors/status.cfm?state=Map.

The U.S. Coast Guard said 90% of people who drowned on lakes and rivers in 2023 were not wearing a life jacket.

This year, that unfortunately includes kayaker Dustin Valencia, who was found dead in Lake Lanier on Friday.

“If you’re not a good swimmer, that water is not forgiving,” said Col. Mike England, Coast Guard

Along with having safety devices, one of the best ways to stay safe is to drive sober.

“Same legal limit as driving a car as it is to drive a vessel. It’s going to be 0.08 is the legal limit. There is no open container law on a vessel, but I recommend if somebody’s going to be driving that they do not drink,” said Ledford.

England said last year, wardens arrested 259 people for boating under the influence and have already arrested 16 people doing it this year.

In 2024, he said wardens saw 57 drownings and 20 boating accidents. So far this year, that number is already sitting at 27 drownings and five boating accidents.

England said those calls are not easy on anyone, so that is why they are once again telling people to keep their life jackets on, swim with a buddy and follow boating laws.

Paying attention to buoys and knowing what they mean is crucial to staying safe on the water.

“Each one of them actually have writing on them to explain what they are. If you don’t know what it is, pull up to it, so that you can read and know what you need to do,” said Ledford.

And if you are going out for the first time this summer, there may be a few more bumps around the shoreline.

“The number one issue that I see is floating debris, floating trees. With the fall and the rise of the lake levels, like I said, it’ll break loose from trees and you’ll have something floating in the middle of the water that is not supposed to be there,” said Ledford.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

On the road: Stay alert and buckle up, troopers say

1. Officials are asking drivers on the road this weekend to avoid distracted driving and buckle up.
2. Fifteen people were killed in vehicle crashes during the 2024 Memorial Day holiday weekend in the Peach State, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
3. The National Highway Traffic Safety istration said half of the enger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in Georgia from 2019-2023 were not wearing seat belts.
4. “State troopers and officers will be out in full force patrolling interstates and state routes and local streets around Georgia, not just to write tickets, but to save lives,” said Lt. Col. Kendrick Lowe, deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

“With the water levels where they’re at, when the temperatures are hot and it’s sunny outside, people are going to get out and enjoy the water. That’s what we want them to do,” England said. “But we want them to understand what the rules and regulations are and if they have kids under 13, they have to wear that life jacket at all times in the boat. If you’re not a good swimmer, it’s okay to wear a life jacket all day long. You can still get a sun tan wearing a life jacket.”

England said any unsafe behavior will not be tolerated.

“Our game wardens will be out in full force this weekend and all summer long,” he said. “Our goal is simple: For everyone to enjoy Georgia’s waterways and to go home safely at the end of the day, and getting unsafe and irresponsible operators off the water is one of the best ways to make sure that happens.”

If you are caught drinking and operating a boat, wardens say there will be no warnings. You could face jail time, a hefty fine and lose your boating license.

S.C. boat checks

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is offering courtesy boat inspections across the state this weekend.

During the inspections, officers will check to make sure each boat has the necessary equipment and proper registrations.

If boats are found to be noncompliant, owners will not be ticketed but will be offered the chance to fix any issues before launching their boat.

In the CSRA, inspections will be offered in McCormick County at Dorn Landing on Lake Thurmond from 10 a.m. to noon May 25.

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