The Fourth of July holiday is a great time to get together with family and friends to celebrate our independence. If you’re planning to spend some time at a Brazos River Authority reservoir, we would like to offer a few reminders to help you and your family stay safe.
For those who plan to head out on a boat, here are must-haves for your watercraft:
- Working lights. All vessels, including kayaks and rafts, must have at least one effective and bright light, lantern or flashlight displayed after dusk. This light must be visible from sunset to sunrise in all weather conditions.
- A sound device. The ability to alert boaters or swimmers via a sound device, whether a standard horn on the boat, whistle or an air horn, is required in Texas.
- Either an observer (someone other than the boat operator) or mirrors installed on boats. The rearview mirror must be at least four inches long and wide.
- A fire extinguisher. The number and type required depends on the length of the boat, fuel tank location and type of engine. For specific fire extinguisher requirements, please go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department here.
- A life vest for everyone on board. In Texas, all children age 13 and younger must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD). Both children and adults must wear lifejackets on personal watercraft. All boats, including canoes and kayaks, must have at least one suitable PFD for each person on board, including infants.
- Texas license and registration. If you own a boat, it must be registered and meet all safety requirements. All motorized boats, regardless of length, and all sailboats 14 feet or longer or having an auxiliary motor must be registered with the state.
- An engine cut-off switch. This switch is designed to instantly shut off the engine in an emergency. The operator wears a lanyard attachment that activates the ECOS if the operator falls overboard or moves beyond the length of the lanyard. Not only does the boat or PWC need to be equipped with an ECOS, but it must also be in use by the operator.
Parks
If you’re planning to enjoy a lakeside visit to a BRA park during the weekend, reservations are not necessary, but camping spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Furry friends are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Please remember, for everyone’s safety, glass bottles are prohibited. And, while alcohol is not prohibited on BRA lakes or parks, we encourage people to avoid consuming excess quantities, which impairs judgment and creates a safety hazard.
Anyone experiencing an emergency on the lake should call 911, so a dispatcher can locate the nearest lake ranger, game warden or sheriff’s deputy and send them to assist you.
Fireworks
Setting off fireworks is illegal in many places throughout Texas, including most incorporated cities. If you’re planning to spend the weekend at a BRA reservoir or park, please be aware that fireworks may not be set off over BRA reservoirs or in BRA parks. Fortunately, both Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Granbury will feature professional fireworks displays over the weekend.
The fireworks display at Lake Granbury is part of a three-day celebration, July 4 – 6, beginning with a parade at 9 a.m., July 4. The 51st annual Hometown 4th of July includes events on the square and fireworks at sundown. For more information, call (817) 573-1622 or go to http://granburychamber.com.
The Possum Kingdom Lake Hell’s Gate Fireworks Show 2025, sponsored by the Possum Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for July 5. Visitors are encouraged to join the Chamber at the YMCA Camp Grady Spruce. For more information, call (888) 779-8330 or go to www.possumkingdomlake.com.