WTVY  | Georgia  | News, Weather, Sports

Labor Day Boat Safety

By: Lauren St. Germain Email
By: Lauren St. Germain Email

Today Jessa and her family took full advantage of their days off from work and school

"We are going to ride jet skis," exclaimed Jessa Foremen.

But park rangers want to make sure beach-goers know about the lake's water levels.

“The lake levels have decreased because we have not had a lot of rain, said Joyce Sellers, Park Ranger at Walter F. George Lake.

You can see here how much sand is showing along the lake's edge. There is around 2 to 3 feet of extra sand on the beach. This may cause a problem for boat owners.

But what can you do to keep your family safe?

“We normally stay away from the inlands and getting really close. You have to watch out for the trees that are protruding. You don't want to hit one of those and be flung off a jet ski or a boat,” said Anna Peoples.

“If you are not familiar with the lake, there are a lot of shallow places and you could wind up stuck,” said Sellers.

Some boats come with a depth finder to help you monitor water levels. But how can you tell if there are shallow parts of the lake?

“Well you can tell by the way the sand level is. We have a lot more sandy shores, there wouldn't be so much sand,” said Wendell Register.

Sellers also recommends getting a map and always letting people know where you are going. She says the key to staying safe is to get familiar with the lake. Many boat owners don't know exactly how low is too low. If you have any doubts about the water levels, stay towards the center of the lake.

powered by Disqus