As Texans and visitors prepare to celebrate Independence Day and America’s 250th anniversary on lakes, rivers and coastal waters across the state, Friday’s episode of On the Dock with Rick Smith delivered an urgent reminder: this holiday weekend must be met with caution, preparation and respect for the water.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is sounding the alarm after Texas Game Wardens responded to an unusually high number of water‑related fatalities last weekend. Between June 26 and 28, eight Texans lost their lives in incidents ranging from boating accidents to open‑water drownings at Lake Travis, Lake Fryer, Galveston Bay, Benbrook Lake, Lake Jacksonville, Lake Brownwood, Amon G. Carter Lake and Boerne City Lake.
As of July 2, the state has recorded 25 boating‑related fatalities and 18 open‑water drownings this year. Game Wardens have already responded to 88 water‑related incidents, including 31 injuries requiring more than first aid. Enforcement has also intensified: 68 boating‑while‑intoxicated cases have been filed, including 57 arrests, 10 minors charged, and one BWI assault arrest.
Operation Dry Water: A Nationwide Push for Safety
From July 3–5, Texas Game Wardens are joining the U.S. Coast Guard and hundreds of agencies nationwide for Operation Dry Water, a national campaign aimed at reducing boating‑while‑intoxicated incidents during one of the busiest boating weekends of the year. Coordinated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the effort combines heightened enforcement with public education.
Alcohol remains one of the leading contributing factors in recreational boating fatalities. In Texas, operating a boat with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher is illegal, and the effects of sun, wind, heat and constant motion can intensify impairment on the water. As TPWD Law Enforcement Director Col. Ron VanderRoest emphasized, “Boating under the influence is illegal, dangerous and entirely preventable… and puts everyone on the water at risk, not just the vessel operator.”
Last year’s Operation Dry Water weekend underscored the stakes: Game Wardens contacted 6,371 vessels, issued 856 citations and 1,230 warnings, arrested 34 people for BWI, and responded to multiple serious incidents, including one boating fatality and two drownings.
Safety First: What TPWD Wants Every Boater to Remember
Throughout the holiday weekend, Game Wardens will be out in force, enforcing boating laws and helping Texans stay safe. TPWD encourages everyone heading to the water to follow these essential precautions:
- Wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard‑approved life jacket
- Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while underway
- Designate a sober operator
- Wear your engine cut‑off switch
- Carry all required safety equipment and lights
- Check weather forecasts and monitor changing conditions
- Don’t overload your vessel
- Let someone know your plans and return time
- Complete a boater education course
As VanderRoest noted, “As we celebrate 250 years of our nation’s independence, let’s also celebrate the freedom to enjoy Texas waters by doing so responsibly and looking out for one another.”
A Message for the Holiday Weekend
Friday’s episode of On the Dock served as both a celebration of Texas’ outdoor traditions and a sober reminder of the responsibility that comes with them. With lakes and rivers expected to be crowded, TPWD’s message is clear: enjoy the holiday, honor the moment, and make safety the first priority.
For more information on boating laws, safety requirements and boater education, visit TPWD’s boating resources page.
