By Enid Lake Park Rangers

Boat Patrol

With over 21,000 acres of surface water, water safety is top priority for Enid Lake’s Ranger Staff. Enid Lake ranger personnel promote water safety year round through a variety of programs.

Ranger personnel instruct Boat Mississippi, which is required by all boat operators born after June 30, 1980 in area schools, attend local parades, visit area libraries, air water safety commercials on local cable networks, attend area events and much more.

Another important facet of Enid Lake’s Water Safety Program is Enid Lake’s Boat Patrol. Enid Lake’s Boat Patrol plays a key role in promoting water safety, and keeping visitors safe throughout the summer.

Boat Patrol Rangers not only enforce rules and regulations of CFR Title 36, but patrols to assist Enid Lake’s visitors. Boat Patrol Rangers provide courtesy boat inspections upon request to insure all boats have required safety gear and to insure gear is in good condition and working properly.

Required safety gear includes: 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. Along with the required life jackets Boat Patrol Rangers also insure all visitors follow regulations relating to the Mandatory Life Jacket Wear Policy that is in effect on Sardis, Enid, Arkabutla and Grenada Lakes.

Boat Patrol rangers also spend a large amount of time checking beaches  and to make sure visitors swim within designated area, making beach announcements, towing stranded boaters, inspecting buoys and lake markers and insuring the waters of Enid Lake are safe.

When boating on Enid Lake be sure and visit with Enid Lake’s Boat Patrol to answer all boating questions and to insure a safe and pleasant boating experience.

Remember: boat smart from the start!

For more information on water safety or Enid Lake’s Boat Patrol call the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571 or visit www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Lakes/ms/enid/.