Saturday marks the launch of the National Safe Boating Council’s “Wear It!” campaign, as boaters are reminded to wear a life jacket during National Safe Boating Week, May 16–22, and always. In California last year, there were 55 boating fatalities and 601 boating accidents and, per the U.S. Coast Guard, 90% of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket. The good news is that, here on Big Bear Lake, there have been no boating-related fatalities for two years. As MWD’s Lake Manager Mike Stephenson tells KBHR, “So far, no one has drowned on Big Bear Lake wearing a life jacket—and we’d like to keep it that way.” Stephenson also notes that alcohol is the number one cause of boating accidents, so those who take to the lake are reminded to practice safe boating, by wearing a life jacket and designating a driver. Before launching any vessel on Big Bear Lake—be it boat, kayak or float tube—a Quagga Mussel inspection is also required, at any marina or either of the public launch ramps on the lake’s North Shore. Adds Stephenson, “Our system is so streamlined right now that people are not really feeling the effects of delays in the inspection program—but, remember, if you keep your boat clean, drained and dry, you won’t have to be concerned about the decontamination process.” To alleviate the need for a Quagga Mussel inspection for each launch, the Municipal Water District has also implemented a Quagga-free seal system, for those returning to Big Bear Lake. Explains Stephenson, “Make sure you get your Quagga-free seal bands while leaving the boat launch ramps–then we know that your boat hasn’t been off the trailer since you came out of Big Bear Lake, so you can go back in unmolested.”
