By Chris Hannaford
Enid Park Ranger

BOAT SAFE, BOAT SMART!!

With over 21,000 acres of surface water, water safety is top priority at Enid Lake.

Enid Lake provides numerous opportunities for recreational boaters, anglers and water sport enthusiasts. Enid Lake personnel would like to remind all boaters to practice water safety and follow all boating rules and regulations while engaging in your favorite water sport.

The staff at Enid Lake encourages all visitors to always wear a life jacket at all times while boating.

As part of Enid Lake’s water safety program, Park Rangers provide courtesy boat inspections upon request to any and all boaters that visit Enid Lake.

Inspections can be performed at the Enid Lake Field Office, on a boat launching ramp or even while boating.

Required safety gear include:

•All boats must have one life jacket for every person that will be boarding the vessel.

•Along with the life jackets, all vessels 16 feet in length or longer must have a type IV U.S Coast Guard approved personal flotation device that can be thrown to someone in distress. The most common of these are the ring and cushion type.  

•Children 12 and under must have their life jacket on at all times whenever underway in a vessel under 26 feet in length.

•The person piloting the boat must pay constant attention to the buoy marker systems and navigational aids to ensure Water Depth, No Boating Zones and No Wake Zones.

•Boats are not allowed near developed beaches in order to ensure safety for swimmers. The No Boat Buoys will clearly identify the areas that are prohibited.

•Other items such as fire extinguishers and sound producing devices (whistles/horns) are also very important and are required by law.

Throughout the Fourth of July Holiday weekend and for the remainder of the boating season Park Rangers will be constantly educating all lake visitors about water safety, and will be on the look out for boaters who are not equipped with all the required safety gear.

Remember: Boat safe, boat smart.

Riverview Picnic Shelter

The Riverview Picnic Shelter has been moved to the north side of the old river channel to better accommodate visitors.

The shelter was relocated close to the Riverview playground and near the future site of the Riverview Softball Field. Shelter reservations can be made by calling the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571. Fees for reserving a Picnic Shelter are $50.

For more information on boating safety, water safety or picnic shelter reservations please contact the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571.