August 14 GRDA Weekly Report
Staying Safe While Swimming in Our Lakes and Rivers, Part 2
Know the abilities of those going with you, including swimming abilities and level of supervision required and provide the supervision that is needed. Don't let a momentary lapse of attention turn into a tragedy. A drowning can happen in a matter of seconds! Keep children under constant, active supervision and remain free of distractions. Ensure that inexperienced swimmers stay within arm’s reach. Weak or young swimmers should wear a USCG approved life jacket whenever they are in or near the water. Do not rely on inflatables or water toys, which can enable swimmers to go beyond their abilities or suddenly deflate, which can result in drowning.
Never go swimming alone, always go with a “buddy”. Enter unknown or shallow water cautiously, feet first. Diving areas should be at least 9 feet deep, so never dive into an area that you have not checked first for depth or underwater obstacles. Do not enter the water from a height, such as jumping from a tree or bridge, which is not only dangerous, but may be against the law. Be careful when standing to prevent being knocked over by currents or waves and don’t use alcohol or drugs before swimming, diving or supervising other swimmers. Even an experienced, trained swimmer is not “Drownproof”. Swim lessons for your child will not keep them from drowning, especially in open water due to a variety of hazards and environmental conditions.
Knowing how to respond in an emergency can be the difference between life and death. The first thing you do before you go in the water is ensure that you have a cell phone immediately available and that you are in an area that has cell phone service. Call 911 immediately if you need help. If a child is missing, always check the water first! Seconds count in preventing death or disability from drowning. A drowning victim will most likely be found where they were last seen, so check there first. Have appropriate equipment at hand such as reaching or throwing devices, life jackets and a first aid kit.
Know how to recognize a swimmer in distress. They won’t be able to scream or call for help, because they can’t breath! If you see their mouth is at water level and they are tilting their head back to get above the water, gasping or hyperventilating, they appear to be “climbing a ladder”, struggling to swim or thrashing around, these are all signs of distress and a potential drowning situation. If you see a swimmer in trouble, reach out to the person using any available object that will extend your reach, such as a pole, oar, a tree branch, a belt or a towel. Brace yourself to keep from losing your balance. Throw anything that will provide the victim support, such as a foam cooler or inner tube. A floating object with a line or rope attached is best so you can pull the person to safety. If the water is shallow and calm, put a life jacket on, wade into the water and reach toward the person with a pole, branch, life jacket or other object. It is imperative that you do NOT jump into the water to try to rescue a potential victim, because you could also become a victim of drowning. Remember to “Throw, Don’t Go”. Keep yourself safe. In most cases, only trained professionals should enter the water to perform a rescue.
It's That Time of Year. Watch for School Buses and Speed Zones!
Police Arrest Boat Theft Suspects
There is little doubt that it takes a partnership between police and the public in order to make a positive impact on crime in our society. A recent boat theft was proof of how well social media can be used as a tool in solving crimes after GRDA Police released the photo of a person of interest in a recent theft. The information soon went viral and within hours the suspects were identified and arrested.
On Tuesday, August 8, the Grand River Dam Authority Police Department was notified of the vandalism and damage to a yacht located in the Duck Creek arm of Grand Lake. During an initial investigation, GRDA officers determined that the boat had been taken out of a privately-owned dock, utilized and then returned with damage.
However, with some assistance from the public, officers were able to track down, interview and arrest both subjects involved in the incident.
Through images and video captured on a body camera worn by a GRDA officer on Sunday, August 5, and shared by GRDA Police on social media, the public helped to identify both subjects. The GRDA officer obtained the images when he came into contact with the subjects on the lake on Sunday when the yacht was broken down, but at that time it had not been reported stolen. That contact was treated as an assist. Later, when the incident was reported to GRDA, the footage was reviewed and shared via social media, ultimately leading to the identifications. During the investigation, officers learned that the suspects had also illegally entered and utilized the private residence where the yacht was located.
Griffin Schulz, (28, Chelsea) and Thomas Chambers (30, Tulsa) have both been arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a vessel, and burglary in the second degree.
Restricted Areas at Kerr Dam
Yellow = No Snagging
Orange = No Entry While Releasing or Generating
Red = No Entry
Did You Know?
True or False: I have family visiting and we will be going over recommended boat passenger capacity by just one person. This shouldn’t be a problem for safe boating, right?
Answer: False. It can be a fatal mistake to overload your boat. To ensure boater safety for everyone on board, be sure to check your boat’s capacity plate to see what the maximum number of people or carrying weight in pounds is.
Adobt-The-Shoreline
Life Jackets Save Lives
Grand Lake Information
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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.
Boating Tips From the GLSPS
Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur with the “station wagon effect” on boats. When running your boat under power, make sure the cockpit has some positive air flow through it. Those with cruisers should remember to close the stern ports. People have gone below to nap in the aft cabin and have been overcome by the CO fumes that were sucked in through the open ports of the cabin. Be cautious about rafting up with another boat that is running a generator or motor. The exhaust fumes may enter your boat depending where the exhaust is exiting. Avoid going under a swim platform if the generator or motor is running, as the concentration of carbon monoxide can be so great one large breath can be fatal.
If you have a carbon monoxide detector, check it periodically to make sure it is working. If you don’t have one, it is time to install one. For many cruisers it is wise to install at least two. Put them in the sleeping areas and salon.
The symptoms of mild carbon monoxide poisoning are nearly the same as motion sickness or flu-like with nausea, weakness, dizziness and headache. Confusion may occur and if the concentration is heavy enough one will become almost immediately unconscious and stop breathing, leading to death.
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
Encountering a Sailboat at Night
When you see only a red light or only a green light, you may be approaching a sailboat under sail and you must give way. The sailboat under sail is always the stand-on vessel!
Encountering only a red light
Encountering a green light
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.
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN
300:35-27-3. Permits
(a) Individuals or entities wishing to engage in a Vegetation Management Activity are required to apply for and obtain a permit from the GRDA Office of Ecosystems Management before conducting any such activities.
(b) In order to be eligible to apply for a permit, an individual or entity must be the owner of the land adjacent to the GRDA land for which the permit is sought. If an applicant is not the adjacent landowner, the landowner must consent to the application.
(c) GRDA will consider applications to allow the removal of trees, shrubs, and vegetation for certain conditions and purposes including:
(1) Hazardous trees which pose substantial risk to the public, adjacent property, or properly permitted structures on Project Land.
(2) Trees, shrubs, and vegetation which are dead, dying, or diseased.
(3) Trees, shrubs, and vegetation considered to be an invasive or noxious species by the Office of Ecosystems Management.
(4) Trees, shrubs, and vegetation which may contribute to unsafe conditions by creating visibility problems (sight line) near waterways, roadways, trails, paths, or other access points, provided nothing in this section shall allow removal of vegetation to improve views of docks from land.
(5) Trees that are crowded from natural competition or that were over planted may be selectively removed to maintain spacing for optimal tree growth and function.
(6) Trees, shrubs, and vegetation may be selectively removed to create and maintain an access corridor between an adjacent landowner's property and the shoreline. Corridors must consist of natural materials such as native grass, wood chips, or gravel/crushed rock. Placement of such must not involve earth moving or soil disturbance and must minimize ground disturbance and vegetation removal.
(7) Trees, shrubs, and vegetation may be selectively removed when necessary to facilitate another permitted use of Project Land.
(8) Trees, shrubs, and vegetation may be selectively removed for the creation and/or maintenance of a manicured lawn or for general landscaping purposes. (d) GRDA will consider applications to allow the pruning or trimming of trees, shrubs, and vegetation for certain conditions and purposes including:
(1) Hazardous sections which pose substantial risk to the public, adjacent property, or properly permitted structures on Project Land.
(2) Dead, dying, or diseased sections to improve appearance and health.
(3) Pruning of trees for crown cleaning, crown thinning, and crown restoration.
(4) Pruning of trees, shrubs and vegetation to enhance the view of the lake.
(5) Pruning or trimming of trees, shrubs and vegetation for the creation and/or maintenance of a manicured lawn or for general landscaping purposes.
(e) GRDA will consider applications to allow for other Vegetation Management Activities including:
(1) Landscape plantings.
(2) Removal or pruning for public utility easements.
(3) Planting, removal, or pruning for shoreline stabilization purposes.
(f) In determining whether to grant a permit, the following will be considered and weighed as appropriate:
(1) Current permitted uses in the surrounding area.
(2) The aesthetic and biological impacts of pruning or removal on the vegetation.
(3) The potential for replacement with more desirable vegetation.
(4) The potential impacts on the aesthetic quality of the surrounding area, with consideration given to the views from the land and from the water.
(5) Potential environmental impacts on soils, shoreline/slope stability, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
(6) Special consideration for unique varieties, vegetation of great age, rare vegetation, or vegetation of horticultural or historical significance.
(7) Special consideration for native vegetation in undeveloped landscapes.
(g) Permit applications shall be subject to the following actions:
(1) Approved as submitted.
(2) Approved with modifications/conditions. Examples of modifications or conditions that may be placed on a permit include limiting the allowed activities, requiring activities be performed in a specific manner to minimize impact, and requiring mitigation or other enhancement measures.
(3) Rejected.
(h) Permits shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance and all Vegetation Management Activity authorized must be completed within that period.
(i) No permit shall be required for a utility provider possessing an easement on Project Land to perform Vegetation Management Activities necessary to exercise its rights pursuant to that easement.
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