Last Year Was Deadly On Minnesota Waters, Authorities Don't Want A Repeat

MINNETONKA, Minn. (WCCO) -- Many Minnesotans are spending this holiday weekend on the water and law enforcement want to begin the boating season with a message of safety.

Conservation officers with the Department of Natural Resources joined the Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol to enforce the rules of the water.

The Memorial holiday is among the busiest on Lake Minnetonka. With safety a priority, the DNR had conservation officers out and the Sheriff's Water Patrol had addition boats on the water.

Law enforcement patrolled the lake with a goal to keep everyone safe. They don't want to see a situation like last year, which saw the highest number of boating deaths in 10 years.

Eighteen people died in Minnesota lakes and rivers while boating in 2015. Only two of those killed were wearing life jackets.

According to the DNR, while life preserver use is important throughout the year, and it's especially important at the start of the season when the water is still cold.

"Right now, on Memorial weekend, the water is cold, and the first thing your body does to react to that water is suck in," said DNR conservation officer Leah Weyandt. "When it's that cold, if you don't have a personal flotation device on, your chances of being found in survival definitely decrease."

Over the last two years, the DNR has also expanded their reach on the lake. In addition to boats, they've added waverunners into their fleet to make it easier for officers to access busy areas on the lake.

"You can get into tight spaces, like Big Island," said conservation officer Brent Gruewe.

If a boater is pulled over, conservation officers perform a compliance check to make sure each boat has the required life preservers and equipment.

Boaters are required to have a fire extinguisher, properly sized life preservers for every passenger, and a floating throw for boaters over 16 feet in length.

Also, kids under the age of 10 must wear a personal floating device at all times.

If law enforcement finds that a boat doesn't have the required equipment, it could result in a ticket.