News Release
| Release Number: | 01-076 |
| Dated: | 5/16/2001 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. - With Memorial Day being the official start of summer recreation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is busy reminding people to be safe when using the region's lakes and rivers.
Boaters should be extra careful when using Corps reservoirs this summer. Because of the lower-than-normal water levels at many reservoirs, stumps and other underwater hazards will be more prevalent. Reservoir level and boat ramp information is available on the Corps website at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil.
Park rangers at Bonneville Dam will host a Water Safety Day at the Bradford Island Visitor Center Saturday, May 26. This event ties in with National Safe Boating Week, May 19-25.
The U.S. Coast Guard will have a boat on display. Water safety information and interactive games also will be available for visitors. Topics will include: How to lock through the navigation lock, anchoring in the Columbia River, and water safety/boating information. Water safety presentations and a water safety show will be held in the main theater.
This event is free and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Bradford Island Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. To get to Bonneville Dam, take I-84 to exit 40. For more information call (541) 374-8820.
In southern Oregon, Corps rangers will provide water safety information to about 2,200 junior high school students during a three-day DARE Event Day, sponsored by Jackson County Parks Department, being held May 23 to May 25 at Emigrant Lake near Ashland. The annual event promotes all types of safety educational programs presented by numerous state, county and federal agencies.
Since 1998, park rangers in the Eugene area have visited Lane County schools, teaching students how to properly wear a personal floatation device, or life jacket, and the importance of being safe around water.
About 5,000 children will hear about the importance of water safety in school by the time the program is completed in June. The Corps has been providing this program to Lane County schools since 1998, reaching about 14,000 children since its inception.
Around the state, Corps park rangers will be present at many boat ramps and campgrounds operated by the Corps to make personal contacts with boaters and hand out safety information during the Memorial Day weekend.
Gate attendants at Corps campgrounds also will distribute water safety information.