Water Safety
Life Jackets Save Lives!
Nationally, 80% of people who drowned in boating accidents would have survived had they been wearing a life jacket. Wear it Utah!
Remember: Utah law says there must be at least one properly sized U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person aboard a vessel. Life jackets must be readily accessible and not in an out-of-reach location or in original packaging.
Who Needs a Life Jacket?
- Children 12 years of age or younger are required to wear life jackets.
- Participants engaged in towing activities, anyone on a PWC, river sections that are not designated as flatwater are required to wear a life jacket.
- Any boat 16’ and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must carry a throwable PFD called a Type IV
Throwable devices must be immediately available for use such as in the cockpit or near the helm
Borrow a Life Jacket, Stay Safe on the Water!
Safety comes first whenever you visit Utah’s waters. Through Utah’s Life Jacket Loaner Station Program, visitors can access free, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets at 23 state park stations across Utah. Whether you forgot a life vest at home or need a better fit for a growing child, these self-serve loaner stations ensure everyone stays safe on the water — regardless of experience or resources.
How It Works
- Borrow: Pick out a properly fitted life jacket for a child or adult at the station before hitting the water.
- Enjoy: Play, swim, or paddle with peace of mind.
- Return: Hang the jacket back up at the station when your day is done so the next visitor can use it.
This statewide drown-prevention initiative is made possible through a partnership between the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, Utah Division of State Parks, and Intermountain Children's Health.
Quagga Mussels (AIS)
Been to Lake Powell or Waters Outside of Utah Lately?
Lake Powell is a fun and exciting place for boaters. However, because of the lake’s low water levels – along with an increase in the presence of quagga mussels – more boaters are leaving Lake Powell with mussels attached to their vessels. This problem is also present in multiple waters outside of Utah.
There are requirements for all vessels launching in Utah and they apply to resident and non-resident boaters. To help, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources recommends you plan for the following:
- Owners of non-motorized vessels and motorized watercraft — if it floats, it’s a boat! — need to complete the annual AIS Mussel-aware Boater education course. Only one course completion certificate (printed or downloaded to the DWR app) is required per launch vehicle.
- All motorized vessels must enroll in the AIS program and purchase a current-year decal for their boat ($20 for vessels registered in Utah, $25 for out-of-state boaters).
Additionally:
- Boaters still need to stop at all inspection stations, follow clean, drain, and dry requirements, and if coming from out of state or Lake Powell, complete a professional decontamination before launching in Utah.
- Boaters at Lake Powell should be aware of exit requirements and protocols to contain the spread of quagga mussels.