Are you prepared for summer on the lake?

The summer solstice doesn’t take place until June 20. But most people think of the Memorial Day holiday as the unofficial start of summer – and it’s not very far away!

When summer temperatures increase, so do lake activities. It’s important to be prepared before getting out on the water and to be sure you’ve taken the steps necessary to keep everyone safe. Here are a few things to remember:

Don’t forget the life jackets

Whether you’re on a boat or just playing in the water, a life jacket can save a life. More children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause of death. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14.

A life jacket should be U.S. Coast Guard-approved and must fit properly. If you’re boating in Texas, all children below the age of 13, including infants, must wear a life jacket when the boat is underway. These requirements also apply to those on paddle craft.

Also for safety purposes, there must be a wearable life jacket on board that is easily accessible for each person above age 13.

Nose clips to prevent PAM

Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis, or PAM, is a disease caused by the ameba Naegleria fowleri. It can infect humans when water containing the ameba enters the body through the nostrils, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Wearing a nose clip or holding your nose closed when swimming and diving in warm freshwater can keep water from entering the body and help you avoid this normally fatal infection. For more on PAM, go here.

Watch your wake

There are orange and white no-wake buoys on all Brazos River Authority (BRA) reservoirs that let you know where watercraft must operate at a slow headway speed so that your watercraft does not create a wake or swell. This includes all areas within 100 feet of the shoreline, any boathouse, dock or other shoreline facility, including other boats or areas where people are swimming, whether marked by a buoy or not.

Not only can a citation be given for violating this rule, but if someone can prove your wake has damaged their property, you can be held responsible for repairs to their boat or dock. Slowing down is much easier on your wallet than being confronted with costly repairs to another person’s property or a county-issued citation.

Can you have alcohol on the boat?

Almost half of all boating accidents involve alcohol, according to Boat U.S. Foundation. Operating a boat while intoxicated is a federal offense and is subject to a hefty fine. The open container law does not apply to the passenger area for motorized boating as it does in a vehicle. As of September 1, 2023, it is now a state jail felony to boat while intoxicated with a passenger under the age of 15 on board.

Also, be aware that the number of drinks you can tolerate on land does not necessarily apply to what you can tolerate while on a watercraft. Rocking of the boat can affect your equilibrium. This effect will be enhanced by alcohol. Additionally, the effects of wind and heat are dehydrating, often causing you to drink more than you realize.

Be safe. Your best bet is to leave the alcohol at on the shore, or better yet, at home.

Do you need a license to drive a boat in Texas?

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD), anyone born on or after September 1, 1993, must complete boater education training. While it’s not required for those born before that date, it’s recommended that everyone take the training. Completion of this training allows a user to operate a vessel powered by a motor of more than 15 horsepower or a windblown vessel over 14 feet in length.

When can I operate my personal watercraft (PWC)?

According to TPWD, operational rules for a PWC are sunrise to sunset. Those riding PWCs must also abide by the 100-foot no-wake zone and should not jump the wake of another vessel recklessly or unnecessarily close.

What boating safety equipment is required?

A game warden, sheriff or lake ranger can pull your boat over to see if your boat complies with the necessary safety equipment.

In addition to the boater education safety card:

What are the Texas water safety violations?

Texas water safety violations are issues pertaining to equipment, operations and registration. More information on these violations can be found here. If you’re pulled over while on the water, officials will be looking for the required safety equipment listed above. Additional safety violations can include some of the following:

Are you visiting different lakes?

When you take your boat to different lakes, don’t forget to clean, drain and dry, even if it’s been a few weeks or few months. Zebra mussels are an invasive species not native to Texas that take over the local ecosystem. They will attach to your boat, dock, or any hard surface.

Zebra mussels can live in bilge water for months. Before putting your boat back in a lake, make sure you don’t have any hitchhikers on board. Remember to clean, drain and dry.

In trouble and need help?

If you’re out on the lake and you find yourself in trouble, you can call 911 for help. Local county dispatch will contact BRA lake rangers, Palo Pinto Sheriff's Department or a Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden who will be sent out to help.

If you have questions about Texas boating laws, including permits and licenses, or are just looking for places to fish, you may access information provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department via their Annual Outdoor app for your phone. Look for the app on your phone’s app store.