John K. Flores: Operation Dry Water targets impaired boaters

This weekend our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary and my, how things have changed since independence was declared in 1776.
Waterways during the infancy of our nation in those days were pretty much our highways for shipping goods across the vast expanses of untamed land.
Recreational boating wasn’t something invented yet. The closest thing to a joy ride on the water back then was when Lewis and Clark headed up the Missouri River in 1804.
Today we kayak, canoe, jet ski, water ski, whitewater raft, tube, hydro-slide, race, hunt and fish on pretty much all the waters our ancestors settled in this great land called the United States. However, it’s not always done safely.
A 2024 United States Coast Guard Boating Safety Executive Summary verified there were 3,887 recreational boating incidents that involved 556 deaths, 2,170 injuries and approximately $88 million of damage to property.
What’s more, the report points out where the cause of death was known, 76% of the victims drowned. Additionally, where personal flotation device usage was known, 87% were not wearing their PFD.
According to the report, in 2024, there were 11,674,073 recreational vessels registered by the states. Most striking perhaps is the report says, where the primary cause of boating incidents was known, alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in 20% of deaths.
In a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Press Release issued this past week, LDWF agents will be participating again this year in “Operation Dry Water” this weekend, July 4- 6. The release says, LDWF agents will be out in full force patrolling state waterways for impaired boat operators.
\“Our enforcement agents are fully prepared to protect our citizens as they enjoy time on the water during this busy boating weekend,” said LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth, in the release. “As the Fourth of July holiday draws in thousands of boaters to Louisiana waterways, it is our duty to work with our state and federal partners to keep impaired boaters off the water where they can seriously bring harm to their self or others.”
Operation Dry Water weekend was started in 2009 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Moreover, the LDWF has been a participant every year since its inception.
It’s important to note that in Louisiana, a DWI on the water carries the same penalties and fines as on the road and includes jail time, fines, and loss of driving privileges.
The USCG lists the top five primary incident types as being collision with fixed object, collision with vessel, grounding, swamping and persons falling overboard.
In the 42 years that I have operated recreational vessels in Louisiana waters, in 2024, I had my first ever boating incident. My wife and I were traveling across East Cote Blanche Bay to fish redfish and as we drew near to the Humble Canal, we struck a submerged pylon that tore a hole in the bottom of my boat’s hull.
The force of the collision was so great. It nearly threw Christine overboard and it caused me to leave my feet and hit my mouth on the console grab bar.
Needless to say, when I stopped the boat, we were pretty shaken up. I noticed we were taking on water, so I turned the bilge pump on, and we high-tailed it back to the landing safely.
The area we were fishing happened to be a place we fish regular during the summer and fall. It only goes to show how things constantly change. What’s more, some you can’t see.
Christine and I “always” wear our PFDs whenever we are on the water and the boat is running. Moreover, I insist whoever is in my boat adult or child, follows my rules when it comes to wearing PFDs. Wearing a PFD can make the difference between life and death.
The LDWF press release says that last year over 7,000 officers from 485 agencies nationwide participated in Operation Dry Water. In 2025 those agents made 580 driving or operating a vessel while impaired arrests. In 2024, LDWF agents arrested 25 boaters for DWI on Operation Dry Water weekend.
For more information on Operation Dry Water go to their website at www.operationdrywater.org
John Flores is the Morgan City Review’s outdoor writer. He can be contacted at gowiththeflo@cox.net