April 10 GRDA Weekly Updates
Essential Spring Boat & Dock Maintenance
Before you hit the water at the first sign of spring, it's essential to conduct proper maintenance to keep your boat performing at its best and your dock ready for the season. You'll want to catch any mechanical faults before you're on the water. Set aside a day before launch to complete these maintenance steps or have them checked by a professional.
The first thing you need to examine is how safe is the condition of your dock for you, your family and friends. Allocate some of your time in checking for the following:
- Remove trip hazards! Extension cords, fishing rods, dock Lines, etc. can be dangerous if you don’t see it. You could trip, fall, and possibly break something.
- Check extension cords, electrical connections and electrical lines for signs of wear that indicate they need to be replaced.
- Check the deck/walkways for screws or nails that are sticking up, warped boards, etc. and get them repaired. Don’t take the chance on an injury from a fall due to problems with your dock decking.
- Lift Tanks & Lines- look at these and make sure they won’t be hit by the boat when you are departing or arriving at the slip.
Watch the children! Know where they are at ALL times when you are on the dock, and they should always be wearing a life jacket while on the dock, just in case they fall in the water. Check the water around your dock for debris such as logs, branches, trash, etc. Clear any debris out from around your dock before it can be struck by the prop or become sucked up in the water inlet on your outdrive. Damage to your props and overheats can be expensive, and a little time clearing debris before you launch can save you allot of expense.
Before you launch from the dock, be aware of where people are fishing. Those fishing close to your dock may not see you or your kids before casting, and you don’t want to risk you or your family being inadvertently injured by a fish hook.
Get your boat running.
- Charge the battery. After sitting idle all winter, the battery may be low — or even dead. Plug it in overnight to charge it, or purchase a new battery if necessary. Check the acid levels in the battery and top them off with distilled water.
- Top off the fuel tank. You don't want to be stranded in the middle of the water.
- Inspect the engine. Make sure all parts are in good condition.
- Look for loose hose clamps.
- Replace the spark plugs.
- Inspect belts, cables and hoses to make sure they aren't cracked or brittle.
- Check the impeller to make sure it's not too worn. Impellers typically need to be replaced every two years or after 200 hours of use.
If you're hauling your boat on a trailer, make sure the brakes are working. Check the brake lights, running taillights and the tail lights to ensure they are all in working order, as well as the light connector plug.
Clean the exterior of your boat using a mild detergent to wipe it down, then add a coat of wax.
Prep other essentials.
- Don't forget life jackets. Make sure you have enough on board and that they are all in good condition, easily accessible and sized appropriately for passengers.
- Review other safety gear. Check your safety items, such as a first-aid kit, flares, fire extinguisher and flashlights, and store them in a waterproof container where they will be readily accessible.
Here are some things to look at if your boat doesn’t start:
1. Is the battery switch in the “ON” position?
2. Is the Safety Lanyard installed and the switch is in the Run position?
3. Is the Shift Lever in the Neutral position?
4. Is there enough fuel in the boat?
If it still doesn’t start, it may be time to call a local service department.
Life Jacket Saves Lives
Public Safety Telecommunicator Week
Understanding Severe Weather Outlooks
Safety Education Programs Ramp Up
GRDA Police Officer Billy Blackwell (left)visited with allot people recently at the Wagoner County Emergency Management Expo in Coweta. Officers will be attending a number of community events in the coming months in order to share the message about water safety and the importance of using life jackets.
Did You Know?
Two-thirds of drowning victims are described as good swimmers.
GRDA Shares “Adopt the Shoreline” Schedule, Dumpster Locations
Personnel with the GRDA Shoreline Maintenance Crew joined forces with Grand Lake Tow Boat US, Clearwater Bay Marina and volunteers from Zone 2 in cleaning debris from the shorelines in the area last week. The cleanup effort was held over the course of two days and resulted in the removal of 6 tons of debris from the lake! Another cleanup date will be scheduled for Zone 2 in the near future.
As activities related to the new Grand Lake “Adopt The Shoreline” program are set to begin this month, the Grand River Dam Authority is sharing more information about the program schedule and locations.
The program, resulting from a cooperative agreement between GRDA, Grand Lake Sail & Power Squadron and various grand lake stakeholders, works like this: the shoreline is divided into 10 "zones," with a coordinator for each zone. That coordinator organizes volunteers who work together at set times to clean up their specific zone. GRDA will support the effort by supplying trash bags and will also be paying the disposal costs for all approved program cleanup events. At the same time, GRDA has also staffed its own full-time shoreline cleanup crew, complete with a barge and the necessary equipment to remove large debris form the lake shore.
Many of the scheduled clean-up events are set to take place in April and May. GRDA will be accepting white dock foam and trash collected from the shoreline at these dumpster sites, on these dates:
Zone Date Time Dumpster Location
1 April 21 8am to 4pm Discount Dock Service
2 April 3 & 4 8am to 4pm Clearwater Bay Marina
2 April 28 8am to 4pm Hi-Lift Marina
3 April 13 & 14 8am to 4pm Gran Tara HOA ramp
4 May 14 9am to 4pm Big Hollow ramp
5 May 9th 8am to 4pm Southwinds Marina
6 April 20 & 21 8am to 4pm Shangri-La ramp
7 May 8 9am to 4pm Patricia Island HOA ramp
8 April 14 8am to 4pm Goldner Dock Service
9 May 2 8am to 4pm Elk River Landing
10 To Be Announced
For more information on the program, contact GRDA Superintendent of Shoreline Enforcement Scott Horton at (918) 256 0894. You can also learn more online by visiting the program’s website at www.grda.com/adopt-the-shoreline.
Big Bird Bail Out
GRDA Police responded to the area of Gray's Cove on the Elk River for a call of a pelican in distress. The large bird had been tangled in a jug line for two days and was unable to escape. GRDA Police Captain Casey King went to the rescue of the entrapped bird, and was able to successfully release the animal back to freedom. People or Pelicans, GRDA Police is there for the rescue!
"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.
ENDUI Walk
Boating Tips From the GLSPS
Inboard marine engines may look like automobile engines, but they are different in many aspects. Parts are not generally interchangeable. For example, aluminum ignition parts are fairly common on automobiles and trucks, but they are a source of immediate trouble on marine engines where only copper should be used. Be especially wary with electrical parts. Automotive parts are generally not explosion proof where the marine parts are design to reduce the danger.
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.
Bassmaster
The 2018 Bassmaster Elite tournament will be held on Grand Lake on April 26-29 at the Wolf Creek Park boat ramp in Grove. The public is welcome for an early morning look at 111 of the best bass anglers in the world beginning their day on Grand Lake. Takeoff will begin with the national anthem at 6:15 a.m. CT. The location for the takeoff is Wolf Creek Park.
After a day on the water, you are welcome to watch the Elite Series anglers weigh in their catches on stage with B.A.S.S. emcee Dave Mercer and Tournament Director Trip Weldon. Weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m CT at the same location as takeoff, Wolf Creek Park.
In order to accommodate the national tournament, officials will be closing the Wolf Creek boat ramp to all public boat traffic the week of April 23-29. The tournament is expected to draw 700 to 1,000 boat spectators, with as many as 5,000 on land at Wolf Creek Park at the weigh-in. The tournament will also be televised on ESPN.
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.
PERMITS FOR WHARVES, LANDINGS, BUOYS, BREAKWATERS AND DOCKING FACILITIES
300:35-11-4. Electrical inspections
(a) Each commercial and private boat dock (or any other type of floating structure) shall comply with and be maintained in accordance with all laws, regulations and codes regarding electrical systems and wiring.
(b) All commercial and private boat docks constructed, modified, relocated, or transferred shall provide to GRDA a current certificate signed by an Oklahoma licensed electrical contractor, evidencing compliance with all laws, regulations and codes regarding electrical systems and wiring.
(c) A dock will not have any permanent electrical supply installed without first obtaining written approval from GRDA. No temporary electric supply shall be used and no submersible pump shall be allowed in the water.
300:35-11-5. Breakwaters
(a) A breakwater is a structure used to protect docks, shoreline, or other structures by stopping or slowing waves or wakes.
(b) No breakwater shall be placed in the waters of GRDA without a permit.
(c) Breakwaters must be anchored in permanent locations and shall have a minimum of proper solar lighting installed at least every 25 feet across the entire structure. The owner of a breakwater shall be responsible for maintaining it in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner.
Riverology 101
Adopt The Shoreline
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