Because the weather was warm and sunny, visitors were on the water in droves over the Memorial Day weekend, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The higher numbers translated to an increase in drownings, boating incidents and BUI arrests, according to Mark McKinnon, spokesman for DNR's Law Enforcement Division.
For the three-day weekend, DNR reported three drownings, which did not include two deaths on Lake Lanier.
One of the drownings on Lanier - that of a 61-year-old Hall County man who fell from his dock - occurred just prior to the 12:01 a.m. Saturday start time for Memorial Day. The other death was considered a boating fatality, even though the victim drowned after falling from a personal watercraft into the lake at the Shoal Creek boat ramp.
"It's a US Coast Guard classification," McKinnon explained. "If someone leaves a vessel and loses their life - even if it is due to drowning - if that vessel is in motion...then that is considered a boating fatality."
On Lake Hartwell, a boat operator suffered serious burns after an explosion on his vessel. McKinnon said the incident on Saturday was one of 16 boating incidents across the state, resulting in nine injuries.
Despite the zero tolerance policy for boating under the influence (BUI) violations, DNR reported an increase in such arrests from Memorial Day 2018.
"We had 28 BUIs across the state this Memorial Day weekend," McKinnon said. "Last year we had 20 across the state.
Of the 20, four BUI arrests occurred on Lake Lanier; there were none on Lake Hartwell.
McKinnon said DNR will continue efforts to educate boat operators on the dangers of drinking alcohol and boating.
"If you're going to consume alcohol on your boat, then be sure you have a designated operator who is going to stay sober," McKinnon said.
While DNR also patrols Lakes Burton, Seed and Rabun as well as Lake Chatuge in North Georgia, McKinnon said those lakes are not part of the holiday tally for larger lakes in the state.
