USACE urges water safety this Labor Day weekend
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reminding everyone to practice good water safety habits and to be courteous with each other over the upcoming Labor Day weekend.
Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest times of the year at USACE parks and recreation areas. With more boaters and swimmers expected to be on the water across the region this weekend, USACE is asking visitors to be patient and courteous at boat launch ramps and to slow down and watch out for each other.
In addition to large crowds, USACE is warning boaters to exercise additional caution while on the water. Due to heavy rainfall events throughout the spring and the first half of summer, water levels at some of the region’s lakes are slightly higher than usual for Labor Day weekend.
Officials urge boaters to take extra safety measures as some areas may encompass underwater obstacles such as tree stumps, rock formations and standing timber. Boaters should use depth finders or other navigation resources, stay in main river channels and give the shoreline a wide birth.
USACE is asking everyone to wear their life jacket, don’t drink alcoholic beverages and operate a boat, never swim alone and only swim in designated swim areas.
Recreation information can be found online at www.swl.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at facebook.com/littlerockusace and through the USACE Little Rock Water Level mobile app at www.swl.usace.army.mil/Home/water-control-app.
