DNR Out in Force on Lake Hartwell July 4th

Lake Hartwell is expected to be awash with boaters, swimmers, and people on their personal water crafts.

And as they are every summer holiday, officers with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources along with Rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are on the waters of Lake Hartwell and other surrounding lakes, looking for impaired boaters to make sure everyone has a safe and fun July 4th holiday.

Georgia ranks sixth in the nation for boating fatalities, with 85 boating mishaps resulting in 22 deaths statewide last year, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

That’s why DNR Law Enforcement Officer Craig Fulghum has some common sense boating safety tips.

Fulghum said first and foremost never operate a boat while under the influence.

“When you’ve got warm weather and a full lake, that means a busy lake,” said Fulghum. “Make sure you find a sober operator when behind the wheel. We take boating under the influence very seriously, we have zero tolerance. We want folks to have a good time but do it in a responsible manner.”

Boating Under the Influence laws are the same as Driving Under the Influence Laws in Georgia, so if caught boating under the influence on Lake Hartwell, you will go directly to jail.

Another way to make sure everyone on board your boat is safe, is to make sure they are all wearing life jackets.

Fulghum reminds boaters that in Georgia, state law requires children to wear a life jacket at all times while on the water.

“As far as life jackets, make sure each individual has a life jacket on the boat,” he said. “If they’re under the age of 13, they have to have a lifejacket on at all times. That’s a big safety issue on Lake Hartwell. We’ll be looking for boats with children making sure they have on a life jacket and that it’s the proper size and fit.”

Now if you don’t have life jackets or enough life jackets for your boat, the DNR and the Corps of Engineers offer free life jackets to borrow for the day.

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

And while you’re on the water, make sure you have a way to call for help in the event of an emergency or sudden bad weather.

“The main thing is that you’re always prepared; keep an eye on the radar and make sure you can get to shore quickly and get to shelter fast in the event of a storm,” Fulghum explained. “Cellphones are very useful for using radar to let you know when a storm is coming. Try not to use the big water near the dam. Try to stay in these small areas where you can get back quick to your home or the boat ramp. It looks like these storms start ramping up towards evening and after dark and the last place you wnt to be is on the water at night when a storm comes up. So always pay attention to your radar and to your surroundings.”

Finally, Fulghum reminds boaters and users of personal water craft to be considerate of those living on the lake.

To learn more about safe boating and to take an online boating safety class, you can go to the DNR Web site at: www.goboatgeorgia.com.