With higher than normal spring runoff levels expected this year, boaters need to be prepared for underwater and floating hazards.
Lookout for the following when enjoying your local waters:
- Floating debris such as trees, branches and garbage are swept up by rivers and carried into lakes and reservoirs.
- Deadheads, also called sinker logs, can damage or destroy
boats if hit at high speed. Deadheads are almost impossible to see as they usually float with most of their mass below the waterline. - Fencing, tree stumps and rocks can be covered by high water and form new shallow areas.
If you come across hazards while boating and have a radio onboard, use channel 16 (156.8 MHz) to warn other boaters. Key the radio, say PAN-PAN (pronounced pahn-pahn), followed by your warning message. This is the U.S. Coast Guard-approved procedure for reporting dangers to other boaters.
