October 2 GRDA Weekly Report

October 2, 2018

Hunting Regulations on GRDA Lands & Lakes

There is no doubt the waters and properties owned by GRDA are great for area sportsman that love to spend this time of year fishing and hunting for their favorite game. We invite everyone to enjoy the beauty that nature has to provide on our properties, but there are specific regulations that you must follow in order to enjoy the hunt legally.

First and foremost, all hunting on GRDA properties shall be conducted in accordance with Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation regulations and all state and federal laws. When fishing or hunting on our properties, you are also required to adhere to the following:

1. Fishing or hunting within restricted areas will not be permitted.

2. Fishing or hunting will not be permitted within two hundred (200) feet of the tailraces below the dams.

3. Fishing or hunting, except commercial bait operators, will not be permitted at such other points on or about the lakes where such use will unduly interfere with navigation or proper conduct of the business of GRDA or endanger the public.

4. Fishing and hunting in the Neosho Bottoms will only be allowed when properly permitted by GRDA. All permitted individuals shall have a proper hunting license in accordance with Oklahoma law and shall only use shotguns, primitive firearms, or proper archery equipment. No rifles shall be allowed within the Neosho Bottoms. Additionally, removal of trees or shrubs of any kind from GRDA land shall not be allowed for use as ground blinds.

5. No hunting shall be allowed on GRDA lands used in the generation, delivery or transmission of electricity.

GRDA does allow the use of firearms for game hunting on our lands and waterways, but hunters are not only required to follow state hunting regulations pertaining to the use of firearms, but must also follow GRDA regulations such as:

1. Only shotguns, primitive firearms, and legal archery equipment are allowed on GRDA property.

2. All hunting on any GRDA property shall be conducted in accordance with Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation regulations and all state and federal firearm laws.

3. The discharge of any firearms or archery equipment in, over or across the waters of the lakes is expressly prohibited except as regulated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. In no event shall the use of firearms or archery equipment be conducted in a manner which interferes with the business of GRDA's projects or endangers the public.

4. Persons properly licensed to carry concealed weapons may do so only in accordance with the laws of the State of Oklahoma.

5. Hunting on any GRDA lands below Twin Bridges is limited to shotguns with steel shot only and proper archery equipment.

GRDA allows hunting in several areas on our lakes and properties designated as Wildlife Management Areas as indicated on the below map. You can learn more about the state hunting and fishing regulations by visiting the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation website at https://wildlifedepartment.com and learn more about the GRDA fishing and hunting regulations by going to grda.com.

Operation Dry Water

Eco Courtesy Dock Closed

The GRDA courtesy dock at Eco (above) will be closed for use through November. Access to the area has been closed with fencing and barricades (below).

In order to facilitate a shoreline stabilization project near the Ecosystems and Education Center, the Grand River Dam Authority is announcing that the courtesy dock located on Grand Lake, just behind the center in Langley, will be closed temporarily. Because of the presence of heavy equipment in the area, it is necessary to close the dock and the access path to allow the work to proceed safely. GRDA anticipates the project will be completed in late November.

Did You Know?

True or False: The nighttime speed limit on GRDA lakes is 35 mph.

Answer: False. GRDA regulations require that boaters operate vessels at a speed of no more than 25 mph from one-half hour after sunset till one-half hour before sunrise.

Safety Education Programs

Tips for Safe Driving

The onset of Fall and cooler temps means the wildlife becomes more active. No matter where you drive in Oklahoma, from rural roads to suburban streets and highways, the threat of a collision with a deer is real. Deer collision crashes are on the rise, partially because the deer are being displaced from their natural habitat by urban sprawl, but also because the deer population is growing. The Insurance Information Institute reports that over 1.6 million deer-vehicle crashes occur each year and these collisions cause vehicle damage, injuries and even fatalities at a cost of about $4.6 billion.

A Few Facts:

Deer collisions are most likely to occur during breeding season from October through early January.
Prime times to find deer near the roadside are around dawn and from dusk to late evening.
Deer are pack animals. If you see one, rest assured that others are usually close by.

Deer Season Driving Tips -

Always wear your seat belt - Sixty percent of fatal animal crashes occurred when the driver was not wearing a seat belt.
Know the likely deer-crossing areas - Whether or not the road is marked with a Deer Crossing sign, be especially alert for deer when driving on roads or highways on the outskirts of town and in rural areas, especially where roads divide farm land from wooded land. Be particularly watchful when in heavily wooded areas or when there is tall grass and brush adjacent to the roadway.
Use your high beams - When driving at night, especially during peak hazard times, use your high-beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. This won't necessarily deter deer from entering the roadway, but it will increase visibility so that you can more easily spot the deer sooner. You may be able to see the reflection of your headlights in their eyes from a distance, but they may blend in with other reflective backgrounds.
Know when deer are on the move - Be especially careful between 5 AM and 8 AM and between 5 PM and midnight.
Don't rely on devices - Items like deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors have not been proven effective at deterring deer crossing roadways.
Brake firmly if you notice a deer in the road - Slow down and stop if necessary. Be careful not to swerve out of your lane either into oncoming traffic or off the shoulder into a ditch.
Keep your distance - If you strike a deer, don't approach it. An injured deer is frightened and can injure you, as well as further injuring itself. If the deer is blocking the roadway, it poses a threat to other drivers, so call authorities at 911 or *55.
Contact your insurance agent - If you strike a deer and have damage to your vehicle or damage to someone else's property, notify your insurance representative as soon as possible and give them necessary details.

Updates on the Web

Did you not receive our latest GRDA Update? Do you have a friend that wants to see our Updates? You can now go to our website at GRDA.com to view the latest edition of GRDA Police Updates. Go to the Lakes/River tab, open the GRDA Police tab and click on the GRDA Police Update for the latest version of our email release.

Visit our website for GRDA Police Updates

Boating Tips From the GLSPS

Boating after dark requires an understanding how to interpret lights from other vessels at night to maneuver your boat safely. It is made more difficult because of boat lights blending into shore lights.

The “Rules of the road” as to the give way powerboat and the stand on (maintains course and speed) powerboat remain the same whether it is day or night. In a crossing situation, if you see a red bow light, think of it as a red traffic light signaling stop, slow down or change course to pass behind the other boat. You are the give way boat. If you see a green light, it means go, so you are the stand on boat maintaining course and speed. A white light (masthead or all-round) will also be seen both situations.

In a head-on situation, both drivers will see a red and green light plus a white light (masthead or all-round light) between them. Both boats should alter course to starboard (right) passing on the port side.

When overtaking a boat only a white light will be seen until you move to either side when the red/green side lights will be visible. The boat being overtaken will see both the red and green lights, as well as, the white light between them.

Remember, not all boaters know the rules so be prepared to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The danger sound signal is 5 short blasts with a horn or whistle.

Interested in becoming more confident in your boating skills? Boat Smart from the start and take a course from America’s Boating Club, the United States Power Squadrons. For local information visit our website at: usps.org/grandlake or on Face Book at GLSPS.

NAV TIME

A Summary of Boating Laws, Navigation Regulations & Tips

That All Boat Operators Should Know

Reboarding a Capsized PWC

After a fall, the PWC could be overturned completely. You should be familiar with the proper procedure to right the PWC and to reboard from the rear of the craft.

Most manufacturers have placed a decal at the rear or bottom of the craft that indicates the direction to roll your PWC to return it to an upright position. If no decal exists, check your owner’s manual or ask the dealer. If you roll it over the wrong way, you could damage your PWC.

Practice reboarding with someone else around to make sure you can handle it alone. Don’t ride your PWC if you are very tired because reboarding would be difficult. Also, avoid riding where there are strong currents or winds, which could hamper your reboarding efforts.