DNR Urges Safe Boating On Lake Hartwell

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

With National Safe Boating Week wrapping up, new recreational boating statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard are out.

National Safe Boating Week kicked off last weekend and runs through today.

According to those Coast Guard statistics, Georgia ranks sixth in the nation for boating fatalities, with 85 boating mishaps resulting in 22 deaths statewide last year.

With that in mind, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division is gearing up for another busy summer on Lake Hartwell this year.

DNR Law Enforcement Officer Craig Fulghum said with the Memorial Day weekend coming up, Lake Hartwell will be busy with boaters and he has a couple of important safety tips.

Fulghum said one of the main ways to stay safe on the water is to not operate a boat while impaired.

“When you’ve got warm weather and a full pool lake, that means a busy lake,” Fulghum said. “The Georgia DNR Law Enforcement wants to remind people to make sure you have a designated boat driver. Georgia has a zero tolerance policy for boating under the influence. We want the public to go out and have a good time, but make sure they do it in a safe and responsible manner.”

He said another way to make sure everyone on board your boat is safe is to make sure they are all wearing life jackets.

Fulghum said in Georgia, state law requires children to wear a life jacket at all times.

“Children under the age of 13 must have a life jacket on at all times while the boat is in motion. And make sure it fits properly. Also, make sure you have enough life jackets for everyone on board and you are within the carrying capacity for that boat,” Fulghum said.

If you don’t have life jackets or enough life jackets, the DNR offers free life jackets to borrow for the day.

They’re located at the Tugaloo State Park Mega Ramp.

Nationally, drowning was the reported cause of death in three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities in 2015, and that 85 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

Fulghum said one of the biggest issues he deals with on Lake Hartwell during the summer months are violations of the 100-foot rule.

“You must maintain a 100-ft distance from the shoreline. That applies to any developed shoreline, any man made structures, anyone swimming in the lake, swimming areas, and all boats on the lake. If you go inside that 100-ft distance you must operate your boat in idle speed or less,” Fulghum said.

Fulghum said to learn more about safe boating and to take a free boating safety class, you can go online to goboatgeorgia.com.