June 02, 2009

Private, Public Groups Kick Off Summer Recreation, Boating Safety Program

Federal, State, vendors, radio stations promote recreation, boating safety

The National Park Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Lotus Radio and a large group of Lake Mead National Recreation Area concessionaires are kicking off the Summer Boating Safety Program on Friday at an event at Lake Mead Marina at Lake Mead at 11 a.m.

The summer long boating safety program has two purposes: encourage boaters to visit the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and secondly to encourage safe boating during the summer season. The joint program features weekly prize drawings, public service announcements, and boating safety events at the recreation area throughout the summer.

"This is as exciting a partnership as we have ever conducted," said David Pfiffner, game warden lieutenant for NDOW. "We have gathered the agencies and businesses with an interest in boating safety to promote both the great boating opportunities and the importance of boating safety into a program that we hope reaches thousands of boaters."

The Friday kick-off event will feature information on boating safety and a life jacket fashion show and game wardens and other officers who patrol Southern Nevada Waters. Following the event, the program will continue with weekly drawings sponsored by businesses at the recreation area that have provided more than thirty thousand dollars worth of prizes for the program. Agencies will also conduct events, such as voluntary boating safety inspections at boat ramps, throughout the summer. These events will be announced a week prior to each event.

"Lakes Mead and Mohave offer some of the best recreational opportunities in four states," said Darla Cook, vice president of public relations at Forever Resorts, one of the dozens of vendors that contributed to the prize packages. "In tough economic times, we want to encourage boaters to keep boating, and at the same time, remind them to have a safe trip."

The Friday event coincides with the start of National Safe Boating Week, May 16-24. This week is the traditional start of boating season around the country, leading into the Memorial Day Weekend. This year, a consortium of state and Federal agencies in partnership with Lotus Radio and more than a dozen private companies on at the recreation area are combining resources to better reach boaters and others.

"Safe boating is serious business at the recreation area," said William Dickinson, Superintendent of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. "We always focus on safety, but this year the park service wants to help our partners get the word out about the great opportunities for recreation that we offer."

There will be announcements of other events and prize packages offered to boaters throughout the summer. Boaters can qualify to win the prizes available by visiting events announced throughout the summer, or boaters can visit www.funonthelake.com and enter the drawing at the joint web site.

"We have never done anything like this," said Pfiffner. "We are very excited about the generosity of the businesses on Lakes Mead and Mohave, and the willingness of the National Park Service to do something new and different. I hope we see a busy but safe summer for boaters."

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for the restoration, protection and management of fish and wildlife resources, and the promotion of boating safety on Nevada's waters. Wildlife offices are located in Las Vegas, Henderson, Winnemucca, Fallon, Elko, and Reno. For more information, contact the agency web site at www.ndow.org.

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