Fort Worth District emphasizes water safety this summer

Published May 22, 2014
In preparation for the summer recreation season, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lewisville Lake hosted a water safety awareness event, May 21.

In preparation for the summer recreation season, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lewisville Lake hosted a water safety awareness event, May 21.

by LaDonna Davis

FORT WORTH, Texas – In preparation for the summer recreation season, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lewisville Lake hosted a water safety awareness event, May 21.

 

Media were given the opportunity to talk with natural resource specialists and district leadership about the importance of water safety and some of the dangers this recreation season poses due to low lake levels.

 

“To boaters that think they are familiar with the waters, this is a new lake this year,” said James Murphy, a recreation manager for the Fort Worth District. “Everyday a new stump pops up, a new rock pops up. The shoreline is a lot closer than it used to be.”

 

The district also urged all recreationists to use proper fitting floatation devices whenever they are near or in the water.

 

“The number 1 cause of drowning is the failure to use a personal floatation device,” said Murphy. “The majority of people that drown had no intentions of being in the water. They simple either fell overboard, were wading along the shoreline and stepped off in deeper water, or they just did not know how to swim in the first place.”

 

Getting the word out about the importance of water safety to visitors of the 25 lakes managed by the Fort Worth District is especially important as the Memorial Day weekend approaches-the unofficial start of summer.

 

“Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of increased recreational activities at our lakes, said Fort Worth District Deputy Commander, Lt. Col. Neil Craig. “This increased visitation to our facilities runs through Labor Day so we wanted to get out front and begin water safety awareness early.”

“It is great to see the local community getting behind this very important initiative and through this partnership we can all do our part in promoting safe water and boating practices,” added Craig.


Release no. 14-010