Friday March 29th, 2024 5:11AM

DNR: Rangers divide their time between water, fields for Labor Day weekend

By B.J. Williams

Because Labor Day weekend is considered the unofficial end of summer, the crowds will once again flock to area lakes and rivers to take advantage of one more long weekend before autumn.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is predicting the weekend will be busy, but not as active as the Memorial Day or Fourth of July holidays.

"School's already back in session and you have other things competing for people's time, like college football," said DNR spokesman Mark McKinnon. 

In addition, dove hunting season began at noon Saturday, Sept. 1, so McKinnon said some of the same people who spend their time on the water may opt instead to go to the fields.

"Some of our game wardens will work part of the day checking on dove hunters and the other part of the day working the lakes," McKinnon said.

Still, McKinnon said they know the lakes will be busier than normal, so DNR is once again pushing for safety.

He said 2018 has not been particularly safe on Lake Lanier.

"For boating fatalities, we have already exceeded last year - on Lake Lanier there were two [in 2017] and this year there have already been three," McKinnon said. "As far as drownings go, we've also exceeded that by one - there were four last year, five this year."

Boaters continue to behave recklessly, according to McKinnon. Reported boating incidents totaled 24 in 2017, and to date for 2018, there have been 23. He pointed out that Labor Day does not mean the end of boating on Lanier, since warmer temperatures continue into the fall, and that could mean additional incidents.

McKinnon said some 200 rangers will be on duty for the Labor Day holiday, but those rangers can't be everywhere at all times. Thus, the DNR depends on the public to help when it comes to keep the waterways and the woods safe.

"Any time you see anybody who may be violating a law - or you believe to be violating a law - on the waterways or elsewhere, call 911," McKinnon said. "They will get in contact with the game wardens who are on the particular lake and dispatch them to the area. We want to get folks who are reckless or may be intoxicated off the water as soon as possible."

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News
  • Associated Tags: lake lanier, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, dnr, boating safety, drownings, Labor Day weekend, boating incidents
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