Before you go, remember...
Summertime? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Day at the lake? Yes, please.
There are so many ways to have fun at the lake. Don't let one very preventable incident ruin a good time.
A few quick reminders before you head out:
Don't bring this guest with you!
Forget the sweet relief of a cool Texas lake dip for a second. Lurking beneath that inviting surface is an itty bitty threat: zebra mussels. These unwelcome visitors, not native to our state, reproduce like crazy and have a taste for destruction.
The culprit? Oftentimes, it's us. From fancy cruisers to inflatable rafts, boats can unknowingly ferry these hitchhikers across waterways. Zebra mussels latch onto anything – hulls, trailers – and boom, a new colony is born, wreaking havoc on the lake.
The damage? Big time. They mess up the ecosystem, making life tough for our native fish and plants. They can also clog your boat engine, turn your dock into a scratchy mess, and even threaten the water supply. Not exactly the recipe for a relaxing summer.
Plus, forgetting to clean your boat of these freeloaders can land you a hefty fine. Let's ditch the unwanted souvenirs and focus on keeping our lakes healthy and awesome for everyone.
So, how do you help stop the spread? Clean, Drain, Dry.
Clean: Inspect your boat, trailer and gear and remove all plant material, mud and foreign objects. Clean the anchor, anchor line, motor, any fishing gear, everything.
Drain: Remove all water from the boat, including the motor, bladders, bilge, livewells and bait buckets. And drain your boat before leaving the ramp. Remove the drain plug before towing to allow the boat to drain completely.
Dry: Dry your boat, trailer, and everything else for at least a week. Open all compartments and allow the boat and trailer to dry.
For more information, go to TexasInvasives.org.
No excuses
Have fun and enjoy Brazos River Authority reservoirs, but do so responsibly. Just like anyone operating a vehicle, someone operating a boat is considered legally intoxicated if their blood alcohol level is 0.08 or greater. Have a designated driver operate the boat or simply choose to leave the booze back at the docks. The consequences just aren't worth tempting.
The thing is, when you mix boating and alcohol, it's a recipe for disaster. Operation Dry Water, our national safe boating buddies, states that booze is actually the No. 1 killer and endangerment cause on the water.
Operating a boat, like driving a car, requires full concentration. You want to have sharp judgment to navigate, sharp reflexes to react to unexpected waves, and stability to maintain balance to keep all aboard safe. Alcohol messes with all of that. It blurs your vision, slows down your reaction time, and can even make you drowsy.
Being on the water adds another level of complications. The sun pounding down on your head, wind in your ears, the constant rocking of the boat — all of that creates stress that Operation Dry Water warns can actually amplify the effects of alcohol.
Boating under the influence isn't only irresponsible, it's dangerous. It could not only ruin your day but have devastating consequences for you, your passengers, and everyone else enjoying the water.
Plus, let's not forget the possible fines. You certainly don't want to take home a ticket as a souvenir after a great day at the lake.
Enjoy the water this summer. But make sure everyone else gets the chance to do the same.
Don't forget to take this.
Did you know there are items you're required to have on a boat?
Here's a list of items you'll need to have on board that a game warden or peace officer certified as a marine safety officer will look for when making a boater safety check.
- If you were born after 1993, a Boater Safety Course is required by state law. Once you've taken the course, you'll receive a Boater's Education Safety Card as confirmation. Have that on hand.
- Make sure your registration numbers are visible and properly displayed on your vessel. All motorized boats, regardless of length, and sailboats that are 14 feet or longer or have an auxiliary motor must be registered with the state.
- In Texas, children under 13 years of age are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejacket/personal flotation device (PFD) while boating. All boats, including canoes and kayaks, must have one suitable and approved PFD for each person onboard. Both children and adults must wear lifejackets while on a PWC. For a description and illustration of each type of PFD, please click here.
- Boats and PWCs less than 16 feet in length are required to carry a sufficient sound-producing device. Devices can be whistles, horns, or other sound-producing devices that signal intentions and position when visibility is reduced.
- Most boats and PWCs must carry U.S. Coast Guard-approved type B-1 marine-grade fire extinguishers onboard. The exception to this rule is boats that are less than 26 feet in length that are equipped with an outboard motor, boats of open construction and those that are not carrying passengers for hire. Fire extinguisher requirements and types can be found here.
- Getting stuck in the middle of the lake is inconvenient, frustrating, and potentially a safety hazard. Make sure you have a set of tools and plenty of extra spark plugs and fuses in case you have to do some unexpected mechanical work.
For additional information on Texas-required safety equipment, go here.
Brain-eating amoeba.
Hold your nose if you're going underwater.
Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled amoeba commonly found in surface water environments such as rivers and lakes and occasionally in poorly maintained swimming pools and splash pads. It can cause a deadly infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) if it enters the body through the nose, garnering it the name, "brain-eating amoeba." Early symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Later symptoms can progress to a stiff neck, confusion, seizures, and hallucinations. The infection usually kills within 5 days of symptoms appearing.
Unfortunately, it thrives in the summer. Fortunately, naegleria fowleri infections are very rare, but it's important to be aware of the risks. A few tips:
- Avoid jumping or diving into bodies of warm freshwater, especially during the summer.
- Hold your nose shut, use nose clips, or keep your head above water when in bodies of warm, fresh water.
- Avoid digging in or stirring up the sediment in shallow, warm, fresh water. The amoeba are more likely to live in sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds, and rivers.
- Avoid placing your face directly in the path of water shooting up from a splash pad. Again, holding your nose or using nose clips is vital.
It's imperative to seek immediate medical attention if you or someone you know develops a headache, fever, or vomiting after swimming or playing in freshwater. Prevention is key. Learn more here.
Watch your wake
All watercrafts can create waves, but a wake created in the wrong place can be costly and dangerous. Any boat can create a wake – or a wave created by the passage of the vessel – so don't think it's just the large boats that must take notice.
The Texas Water Safety Code states that a boat operator is always responsible for the wake caused by a boat until it flattens out. This is true for all boats, including borrowed or rentals.
There are portions of the lake where boats and personal watercraft are not allowed to create a wake. A no-wake speed is a headway speed that does not create a swell or wake. This means if you're driving a boat or cruising on a personal watercraft, you need to hit the brakes sooner the closer you get to areas where people are swimming, resting on a dock, or enjoying the shoreline.
These "No Wake" zones, marked by buoys, indicate areas where boats and personal watercraft must operate at a slow headway speed that does not create a wake or swell.
This zone includes areas within 100 feet of the shoreline, boathouse, dock, or other lakeshore facilities, including an occupied watercraft or area where people are swimming or diving. This doesn't mean the orange and white, tall, slender buoys that have the words, Slow No Wake, will be placed at every dock or boathouse or will dot the shoreline. Boat operators already must know the rules of the water without relying on the regularity of signs that driving on the road might offer.
Enjoy the reservoir, just remember to Watch Your Wake.
Don't let sunshine fool you.
As Texans know, the state's weather can change in an instant. Sunny days on the water can turn into dangerous weather before you are able to return to shore. Be aware of local weather conditions and forecasts before going out on the water. Thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds create dangerous swimming and boating situations.
Always pay attention to your surroundings and keep a safe distance from others. This means no beaching or rafting your boat next to someone else and keeping your distance at the fuel stations.
H2herO
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate — that's your best friend against the Texas sun.
Bring enough water for everyone in your crew, and don't be afraid to refill those bottles often.
Here's the game plan: Make sure to balance summertime fun with breaks to cool off. Pack plenty of water - ditch sugary drinks and alcohol, both tend to dehydrate - and, if you're planning a long adventure outdoors, find yourself a shaded area or an air-conditioned haven from the heat.
Just taking a few extra minutes to implement water safety tips will help keep you and your family safe this summer.