Raystown Lake to Participate in Operation Dry Water Campaign, July 2-4

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
Published June 23, 2021
Updated: June 23, 2021

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will participate in the annual Operation Dry Water campaign July 2 – 4, 2021, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PAFBC) as part of a nationally coordinated effort to educate boaters about the dangers of boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The mission of Operation Dry Water is to reduce the number of alcohol and drug-related incidents and fatalities on the water.

Operation Dry Water weekend promotes and provides safe recreational boater outreach, water safety education and coordinated enforcement surrounding boating under the influence. Alcohol use continues to be the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater casualties and the leading contributor in boating accidents. USACE asks boaters to enjoy this boating season while sober to ensure everyone’s safety. The use of legal and illegal drugs impairs judgment and reaction time and creates dangerous circumstances while boating.

As the nationwide lead provider of water-based recreation, USACE is committed to promoting safe boating practices.


"To ensure that everyone is safe out on the water, we have partnered with Operation Dry Water to assist in educating operators and passengers on the dangers associated with boating while impaired," said Allen Gwinn, Raystown Lake's supervisory park ranger. "We will also be reminding them of other safe boating practices, such as wearing a life jacket and enrolling in a boater education course. USACE wants everyone to have a great summer at Raystown, and to do that, boaters must remain sober and alert."

As part of the Operation Dry Water weekend, recreational boating safety volunteers, in collaboration with law enforcement in every U.S. state and territory, will be out at marinas and on the water educating boaters about safe boating practices. Law enforcement will also be out on the water working to detect and remove dangerous and impaired operators. In 2020, law enforcement officers across the nation removed 625 impaired operators from our nation's waterways during Operation Dry Water weekend.

USACE reminds boaters to always operate a vessel sober and wear a life jacket when on or around the water. The risk of serious injury is the same for operators and passengers when drinking. Additionally, alcohol use by passengers presents a danger regardless of whether the operator is consuming alcohol or not.

Boaters can learn more about boating under the influence by visiting operationdrywater.org. Operation Dry Water is coordinated nationally by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.


Contact
Allen Gwinn, Supervisory Park Ranger, Raystown Lake
814-658-6810
allen.gwinn@usace.army.mil

Release no. 21-039