News Release

Park Promotes Boating Safety

Date: July 1, 2019
Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393

MOOSE, WY— As boating season gets underway in Grand Teton National Park, all local residents and visitors are reminded to operate boats safely and with regard to others. Park staff will participate in Operation Dry Water, a nationwide awareness effort to promote boating safety, this weekend, July 6 and 7.

As part of Operation Dry Water, park rangers will provide heightened awareness and enforcement on all waters throughout the park. Rangers will also conduct vessel safety inspections. These voluntary inspections are meant to ensure boaters have all the requisite safety gear on board including:
 

• Personal flotation devices (PFD) for everyone on board the vessel. These must be U.S. Coast Guard approved, appropriately sized, and readily accessible. Children age 12 and under must wear them at all times.
• A sound-making device such as an air horn or whistle for emergencies.
• Navigation lights for all watercraft that will operate at night.
• A throwable flotation device such as a seat cushion or ring buoy. These are required on all motorized vessels 16 feet in length or longer and must be U.S. Coast Guard approved Type IV devices.
• Fire extinguishers for motorized vessels with an internal fuel tank.

Rangers inspected a total of 104 watercraft and contacted 245 boaters during Operation Dry Water weekend in 2018. There were five warnings issued for not having required safety equipment and paperwork on board. Most warnings for required safety items were issued to operators that were able to correct the problem by purchasing the items at the store or by correcting the problem and relaunching the vessel. There were two terminations of voyages for vessels with uncorrectable safety infractions. No citations were issued.

Themes noted from the 2018 operation included lack of compliance concerning required vessel documentation and vessel numbering. There were also a number of insufficient PFDs and inadequate fire extinguishers.

Boaters are reminded that both a park boat permit and a state of Wyoming aquatic invasive species decal are required before launching on any park waters. Park boat permits for all motorized watercraft are $40. Permits for all non-motorized watercraft, including stand-up paddle boards, are $12. Park boat permits are available for purchase at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Colter Bay Visitor Centers and the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. State decals may be purchased at a variety of outlets in the local area. For more information about boating in Grand Teton National Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/upload/boating19-access.pdf.

All boats should be checked at the Moose or Moran Aquatic Invasive Species Station upon entry to the park. Recreationists transporting any watercraft, including non-motorized vessels such as canoes and kayaks, are required by law to stop every time they pass an open inspection station. Watercraft that are dirty or have standing water will require a more in-depth inspection and potentially decontamination. As in past years, boat inspectors are issuing visitors an inspection verification card upon completion of the inspection. Frequent visitors should carry this card with them to expedite the inspection process during future visits.

Rangers will also perform increased lake and river patrols with the goal of increasing awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths in the United States. It is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol concentration level of .08 or higher.

Everyone boating and recreating on Jackson Lake is reminded to respect other recreationists. Boaters on the lake have many different interests, including fishing, wildlife watching, access to wilderness, and water sports. Music should be kept to a reasonable volume and adequate space given to other boats.

Learn more about Operation Dry Water by visiting http://www.operationdrywater.org/.