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WHERE THE BUOYS ARE
by John McManus
Lake Safety Committee
If you have any questions about buoys in the lake, please call any member of the Lake Safety Committee. The Committee is in the process of having buoys set out, including getting County permission to locate no-wake buoys. There will be buoys to mark significant rocks and hazardous areas, as well as warning buoys near the loon nesting sites.
LAKE SAFETY REPORTS
NEW BOATING REGULATIONS AND SOME SAFETY TIPS
by Jim Schwartz and Don Harris
NEW BOATING REGULATIONS this year require you to have YOUR REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE ON BOARD instead of being "available" as has been the case in the past. The certificate accompanies the validation decal. That "sticker" is to be displayed on the forward half of the hull on each side of the boat along with the registration numbers assigned to your craft. Check to be sure your licenses have not expired! A copy of the MN Boating Guide is available from the City of Walker and from Swanson's Bait and Tackle, in Hackensack. Some other advisories:
 | It is unlawful to operate a motorboat while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances. Nationally, alcohol contributes to about half of boating mishaps and fatal accidents. Penalties here are severe: up to $1,000 fine (plus surcharge), a possible jail sentence, loss of motorboat operating privileges for 90 days during the boating season, and the possibility, if there are aggravating factors, of increased penalties and affected drivers' licenses. |
| U.S. Coast Guard approved PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES (PFDS) MUST BE ON BOARD FOR EVERY PASSENGER. More than 80 percent of boating fatalities involve persons not wearing PFDs. The PFD must be of the appropriate size for the intended wearer, be in good condition and be readily accessible in case of an emergency. Also, power boats 16 feet or more in length are required to have at least one throwable flotation device on board. |
| It is unlawful to transport marine plants, zebra mussels or other exotics on your boat, motor or trailer in the State of Minnesota. You can help stop their spread by removing any visible plants and animals from your rig before launching and after landing, draining water from your live well, bilge and transom wells when you leave any water body. Wash and dry your boat and associated equipment to kill exotic species not visible at the launch site. |
| Observe any experimental and special regulations posted at launch sites. For Ten Mile Lake that means releasing all northern pike that are more than 20 inches long. All other catch and possession limits are identical to those for the State in general. If you suspect that any angler is taking more fish than the limit allows, there is a reward for reporting that person to the Turn in Poachers (TIP) program at (800) 652-9093. Poachers, after all, are not sportsmen, but cost everyone else by unfairly reducing the resources and diminishing opportunities for others. |
| Persons under the age of 13 MAY NOT OPERATE A PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (jet skis, etc.) even with an adult on board. At age 13, you must have an adult on board (21 years or over), or have a Watercraft Operator's Permit, AND be under visual supervision of an adult. If age 14 to 17 years, you must have an adult on board or have a Watercraft Operator's Permit. |
| For items in the lake such as mooring buoys, swim rafts, diving platforms, trampolines, etc. you must have a permit from the Cass County Sheriff's Office. Permits cost $5.00 ($10.00 in 2003) and are good for two years. |
WATERCRAFT OPERATOR'S PERMIT TRAINING
by Don Harris
PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, TAKE NOTE!! The TMLA Lake Safety Committee, in cooperation with other area lake associations and with sponsorship of the Hackensack Lions Club, will be hosting a repeat of the Watercraft Operator's Permit Training Course. The course will be taught by Cass County Sheriff's Water Safety Officer Sergeant Tim Borgland and a Conservation Officer from the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The course, for children 12-17 years of age, is scheduled for
Thursday, June 27, 2002
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Hackensack Community Center
The course is free; snacks and lunch will be provided by the Lions Club. Minnesota Boating Laws require that children between the ages of 12 and 17 have a Minnesota State-issued Watercraft Operator's Permit to operate a motorboat with a motor over 25 hp. An open book exam will be offered at the completion of the course; students mail the test to DNR and DNR will send permits to those who pass. To enroll your children or grandchildren, please call Don Harris (675-6285) or Jerry Mills (547 1164).
A TIP ON BOATING SAFETY
FALLS OVERBOARD AND CAPSIZING are the two accidents that cause the most deaths among boaters. In a small boat, resist the urge to stand up. If you must move around, keep your weight low and close to the center of the craft. (From the MNDNR Boat & Water Safety Guide)
