Date: 5/19/11
Contact: Edwin Lyngar
Phone: (775) 688-1548

Coalition Gears Up for National Safe Boating Week in Southern Nevada

Partnership to Focus Efforts on Life Jacket Wear, Boat Education

A coalition of federal and state agencies and private marine businesses are again teaming up to promote boating safety on the Colorado River System in a summer-long program that kicks off National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), National Park Service (NPS) and dozens of marinas and other marine-related businesses kick off the program at a public and media event May 27, at Callville Bay Marina at Lake Mead from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year's program features boating education, life jacket information, a boating safety prize drawing and a sponsorship for the Las Vegas 51s baseball team.

"Now in our third year, we have developed a solid coalition of boating safety partners that want to keep Nevada boating safe," said Game Warden Captain David Pfiffner, the boating law administrator at NDOW. "Last year, we had only one fatal boat accident on the Nevada side of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This was a historic low, but this year we hope to get that number to zero."

National Safe Boating Week is the traditional start of boating season in Nevada that culminates with one of the busiest boating weekends of the year, Memorial Day Weekend. The May 27 event is the kickoff to a summer program that aims to educate more boaters by offering a prize drawing to encourage more boaters to learn about safe boating practices. Boaters can qualify for the drawing in many ways; by taking a boating education course, taking a web quiz or visiting any one of a number of participating marinas on Lakes Mead and Mohave. Boaters can learn about the program and take the short quiz to enter the contest at www.funonthelake.com. The program features more than $40,000 worth of prizes this year, including free food, boating equipment and even a free house boat trip.

"We are so excited that this program has grown over the past three years," said Darla Cook, vice president of public relations at Forever Resorts, one of the private marina operators helping to spearhead the effort. "We want people to visit the lake, and we want them to be safe, so any incentive we can offer to promote both of these important goals is great for everyone."

Some boaters are required to complete a boating education course to operate motorboats on Nevada interstate waters, like Lakes Mead and Mohave. Boaters can learn all about course options, get free course books or find open classes during a number of public events that will be announced all summer long. The number of boaters taking education courses—both online and by correspondence—increased more than twenty percent last year. Officials credit the prize program, outreach program and other incentives for at least part of the increase.

"We've seen a lot of boaters get excited about the prizes and events," said Pfiffner. "Anytime we can make boating safety and education a part of the community, we know we're going to get a lot more participation, and by extension, we're going to see fewer serious accidents."

Officials have also added the Las Vegas 51s minor league baseball team to the roster of boating safety advocates. This year, NDOW employees and other members of the coalition will be making periodic visits to the ballpark to talk about safety, demonstrate life jackets and answer questions that boaters might have. The centerpiece of this program is a life jacket relay race that will be held during every home game.

"People need to learn about life jackets," said Nick Duhe, boating education coordinator for NDOW's southern region, which includes a significant portion of the lower Colorado River System. "People too often think of life jackets as these ugly orange straightjackets, but that's not the case. New life jackets are comfortable, look great and are so easy to wear most boaters forget they have them on."

Life jackets and boating education remain at the heart of coalition's focus on safety. The coalition has engaged many boating groups, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary that will be offering boating classes all summer. Boaters can learn more about any of NDOW's safe boating programs at the website www.ndow.org, or call 702-486-5127 extension 3430 and ask a boating education specialist how best to become an educated boater.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, 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. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.