Lake Powell patrols will target boating under the influence

• Operation Dry Water will run July 4–6 on Lake Powell.
• Rangers will increase patrols and boating checkpoints.
• Boating under the influence can lead to injury, death, or arrest.
• Life jackets are required for children under 13 while boats are moving.

Monday, June 23, 2025 –– A nationwide boating safety initiative will return to Lake Powell this Independence Day weekend, as Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Rangers join Operation Dry Water from July 4 through July 6, 2025. The effort is a coordinated campaign involving the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, focusing on reducing alcohol- and drug-related incidents on the water.

According to a June 20 news release from the National Park Service, visitors should expect a heightened presence of law enforcement on Lake Powell throughout the weekend. Rangers will be stationed at both boating checkpoints and on the lake itself to educate recreational users about sober boating and to remove any impaired individuals from the waterway.

“The top priority during this time is the safety of all boaters on the water,” the release stated. “Any impaired boater or individual posing a danger to others will be removed from the waterways.”

While Operation Dry Water is a national campaign, local enforcement will be governed by state laws.  In Arizona, boaters can be charged with operating under the influence if their blood alcohol content reaches 0.08 percent or higher. Utah’s limit is lower at 0.05 percent. Both states impose strict penalties, and violations can lead to injury, death, or criminal prosecution.

The campaign also serves to remind passengers that impairment is not only dangerous for the vessel’s operator but also for everyone on board. Whether driving the boat or simply along for the ride, being under the influence while on the water puts lives at risk.

In addition to promoting safe boating, the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is reminding the public about the importance of wearing life jackets. All boaters are encouraged to wear life vests, and it is legally required for children aged 12 and under to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while a boat is underway.

Further information about boating laws and water safety can be found on the park’s official safety page at nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/safety.htm, and at operationdrywater.org.

Image via the National Park Service’s news release.

Related posts:

Utah moves to block Wall Street from public lands Groundwater recharge and resilience conference scheduled New Mexico Tribal water rights bills move forward in Senate SCOTUS decision reshapes EPA’s water permit authority