Lake safety tips for Memorial Day weekend

OKOBOJI, Iowa (KCAU) – With the amount of rain Iowa has gotten in the past month, water levels have risen, but that shouldn’t put a damper on Memorial Day fun.

“The lakes look just fine right now,” Iowa DNR district fishers biologist Mike Hawkins said. “I think everybody is in the same boat here that we’ve got enough water, we’ve got enough rain.”

After some plentiful spring showers, the lakes in Okoboji have seen a significant increase in water levels.

“The lakes have gone from being about one foot low over the winter and last fall, which seemed quite low for a lot of folks that are used to being around the lakes, and today we’re right about on the Okoboji chain about a foot high,” Hawkins said.

But the increase in lake water doesn’t come without consequences.

“That level of water may not seem like a lot, but on a natural lake system it’s actually quite a bit of a change,” Hawkins said. “So as a lot of riparian owners are putting in their docks and hoists, they’re trying to predict where those water levels will be in the spring. So this comes as a little bit of a surprise, as the water levels have really increased and some adjustments may need to be made on some docks.”

For those looking to untie their boats from the dock, having the proper safety equipment ensures that everyone can enjoy the holiday weekend.

“Every person on a vessel is required to have a wearable life jacket,” Iowa DNR state conservation officer Blake Mills said. “Some additional safety equipment depending on your boat would be a type four throwable, a fire extinguisher, and a sounding device such as a horn or whistle.”

With more boats on the water, watching where you’re going will keep everyone safe.

“Be looking around in all directions so that you can see oncoming boats or boats going away from you so that we can see everyone on the boats if there’s skiers, tubers, and people just generally swimming,” Mills said. “Be aware of what’s in the water.”

The Iowa DNR would also like to remind boaters to watch their speed when driving near shores.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.