Game wardens with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), along with law enforcement agencies across Nevada, will be targeting boaters operating under the influence (OUI) this weekend (July 5 – July 7) as part of Operation Dry Water, a nationally coordinated enforcement campaign.

“It’s been proven year after year, drinking and boating are a terrible combination that often ends in tragedy,” said Nevada Game Warden Captain Brian Bowles, Nevada’s Boating Law Administrator. “Alcohol use can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision and reaction time and is consistently the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths.”

NDOW will have officers on every major body of water across the state, and other law enforcement agencies are adding extra officers to many waterways in other parts of the state. In Southern Nevada, the National Park Service will be working with NDOW at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Operation Dry Water is a nationally coordinated heightened awareness and enforcement campaign, focused on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The campaign is an effort to coordinate increased patrols, investigations, and operating under the influence check points across the country.

 “When someone drinks while operating a boat, they are putting everyone on the water in danger,” said Bowles. “We want you out on the water with your family enjoying yourselves, but we also want you to make it home safely. That’s why we ask you to save the drinking until you get back to the shore.”

Bowles also points to several boating stressors such as the glare and heat of the sun, motion of the vessel caused by the wind and the waves and the noise and vibration of the engine. “All of those stressors can cause a person to become tired or fatigued much quicker than on land. Combine that with the dehydration that comes from being out in the sun all day and that alcohol is going to affect you a lot more than you realize.”

For more information on Operation Dry Water, please visit operationdrywater.org. A list of participating of agencies by state can be found at the following site. http://www.operationdrywater.org/agencies.  

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. Find us on Facebook, Twitter or visit us at www.ndow.org.