A Season to Remember
Even veteran officers can’t remember a year we went an entire summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day without a drowning death. Last year was not a good year, with a total of twelve deaths, most of which occurred during the summer season. To complete a busy summer season in 2017 with no drowning’s on GRDA waters, during the busiest time for water activities, is certainly an accomplishment worthy of celebration.
No doubt there were a number of factors that allow us to celebrate an excellent season for safety at the lakes and river, including the unpredictable weather. The approval by FERC to the variance on our water levels has undoubtedly reduced the number of grounding incidents resulting in damage and injuries. The ongoing project to upgrade our lighthouses, buoys and navigation devices, as well as the implementation of a Shoreline Crew tasked with the timely removal of lake debris will further improve safe navigation on our lakes.
GRDA Police are committed to a highly visible police presence on our waters to serve as a deterrent to dangerous behavior and improve apprehension of violators. Officers continued their rigorous training in life-saving swift water rescues. We increased our efforts on the Illinois River this year with the use of the jet powered boat and kayaks, which gave officers the ability to maintain a visible deterrence to unlawful activities with quick response to life-threatening situations before they turned tragic. We are already working to add more boats to the Scenic Rivers Operation next year.
Our agency has doubled the number of water safety outreach programs we conducted this year and we are committed to expanding our public information and education programs as a measure of saving lives. The reward campaign with the “I Got Caught” T-shirt program helps provide an incentive for the public to wear their life jackets.
History has proven that life jackets save lives, and in spite of the lack of mandated life jacket laws, it is incumbent upon all of us to provide an example for our visitors by encouraging the use of life jackets for ourselves, family, employees and friends. The use of life-saving floatation devices should be the norm on GRDA waters, not the exception.
But we can’t do it alone. We rely on you, our partners, to help us share these messages. The expertise and educational materials that you provide to your customers, friends and family, as well as encouraging the use of life jackets by displaying the “Wear It” signs and decals, helps us to promote positive change that has a profound effect.
Granted, we may not be able to replicate the successful season we had this year with no drowning deaths. But we have proven there are things we can do to reduce the risk of losses. It is incumbent upon all of us to change the culture at our lakes and rivers to promote a message of “safety first” on our waters.
It's All About " Keepin' It Grand!"
The Grand River Dam Authority has developed a new initiative to promote a better quality of life for those that work, live and visit the shores of Grand Lake. In an effort to protect our environment and keep the shoreline of Grand Lake clean of trash and debris, GRDA is announcing the “Adopt the Shoreline”program that will kick off this fall with an extensive media push and our new web page.
The program is designed to solicit volunteers to adopt a particular area of the lake and participate in organized cleanup events twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall, supported by GRDA resources.
We are reaching out to our lake partners and businesses who are willing to serve as our "Supporting Members” to join us in these efforts. Supporting Members are businesses which could assist the volunteers with equipment such as barges, boats, loading equipment, trailers and personnel on an annual basis.
All Supporting Members (businesses) will be recognized as our partners and listed on the web page with contact information and a link to their web site.
If you are interested in supporting the program by becoming a Supporting Member, please contact the program coordinator Scott Horton by email at adopt@grda.com.
Please provide us with the business name, address, telephone number, email, and web site address.
Boating Safety
By the Book
The Administrative Regulations of GRDA describe the organizations, operations, and procedures for the Grand River Dam Authority with respect to its administration, rulemaking, and other activities and are intended to supplement and interpret pertinent provisions of state statutes.
The following information are excerpts of the GRDA Administrative Regulations Title 300 Chapter 35 that are provided in an effort to educate the public about what regulations are enforced on GRDA waterways and properties. Many of these regulations have changed effective September 11, 2017. All GRDA regulations are available for review at GRDA.com.
300:35-1-2. Statutory authority
The Act creating the Grand River Dam Authority prescribes the use that may be made of the properties and waters of GRDA and authorizes GRDA to promulgate, prescribe, enforce rules and regulations, and charge a fee for the use, for recreational and commercial purposes, of its lakes and shorelands, including the use of firearms and the inspection of all vessels of every character proposing to operate or operating on said lakes. The travel of vessels on the waters of GRDA shall be in keeping with the following rules of GRDA in the interest of public health, safety and convenience in the use of the waters and the shorelands of GRDA.
300:35-1-4. Registration of boats
Every vessel operating on GRDA waters is subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma Vessel and Motor Registration Act and must have state registration and a current license by no later than June 30 of the current state fiscal year, and shall properly display their current annual registration decal on the vessel at all times. A vessel's state assigned registration number must be displayed in accordance with state law, unless the vessel is a properly documented Coast Guard Approved vessel, and all documentation is available for any officer to view, upon request.
Upcoming Events
Do you have a Special Event Planned?
PLEASE let us know about your lake or river events so we can provide the resources you may need to make it a positive experience!
2017 Lake Events Schedule
5K Sunset Dam Run: September 23, Disney
Hook N Cookoff: September 30, Ketchum Airport
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