Arkansas Game and Fish ramps up lake patrols for busy Fourth of July weekend

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (KATV) — As thousands of Arkansans head to lakes and rivers for the Fourth of July holiday, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is increasing patrols to help keep boaters safe.

Game wardens will be on the water from sunrise into the evening throughout the holiday weekend, with a particular focus on boating under the influence, one of the leading safety concerns during one of the busiest boating weekends of the year.

Sgt. Brady Baker with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said the holiday typically brings a surge of visitors to the state’s waterways.

“Kids are out of school, and a lot of parents are off work,” Baker said. “They’re looking for a place to get cool, and the lakes and rivers are a great place to do that, and Arkansas has tons of opportunity on the water.”

While wardens will be watching for impaired boaters as part of the nationwide Operation Dry Water campaign, Baker said they are also focused on safe vessel operation and equipment violations.

“This weekend is a nationwide focus on boating under the influence,” Baker said. “We’re focusing on this weekend — we do every weekend — but, yeah, that, and just safe operation and equipment violations.”

Baker said many people mistakenly believe game wardens stop boats at random. Instead, he said, officers typically make stops after observing a safety or equipment violation.

“We wait until we observe a violation to make the stop, and it’s going to be for unsafe operation or an equipment violation most of the time,” Baker said.

Baker said alcohol can impair boat operators more quickly than many people realize because of the unique conditions on the water.

“On the water, you have all these other environmental stimuli, like this bright sunlight, engine noise, the wave motion, and so all of those things amplify the effects of alcohol on a person’s body,” Baker said.

Before heading out, Baker encourages boaters to designate a sober operator, ensure there are enough properly fitted life jackets for everyone on board and operate vessels responsibly.

“Have a designated operator for your vessel, and just operate safely, and then make sure that you have enough life jackets for everybody on board,” Baker said.

Officials also remind boaters to check the weather forecast before launching, as conditions on Arkansas lakes and rivers can change quickly.