Across Texas lakes, rivers and coastal waters, Texas Game Wardens spent the Fourth of July weekend focused on one mission: keeping boaters safe. Their heightened presence was part of Operation Dry Water, a nationwide effort aimed at reducing alcohol- and drug‑related incidents on America’s waterways. Over the three‑day period, wardens contacted more than 10,800 vessels, reinforcing safe‑boating practices and removing impaired operators before tragedy could strike.
From July 3–5, 417 wardens conducted 10,817 vessel checks, issuing 1,466 citations and 1,974 warnings for a range of boating safety violations. Their enforcement efforts led to 62 boating while intoxicated (BWI) charges — the highest number recorded during a Fourth of July weekend since 2019 — along with four driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges and 20 additional arrests for other offenses.
Despite responding to 25 boating incidents, wardens reported no boating‑related fatalities. Several incidents involved serious injuries, and two open‑water drownings occurred — one at Lake Hawkins in Wood County and another at Lake Palo Pinto in Palo Pinto County. Wardens also handled numerous calls for assistance statewide, from stranded boaters to emergency rescues.
Col. Ron VanderRoest, director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Law Enforcement Division, praised the thousands of Texans and visitors who made responsible choices on the water. “We’re grateful the majority of boaters made responsible decisions by wearing life jackets, avoiding alcohol and watching out for each other,” he said. “At the same time, the two lives lost are a sad reminder of how quickly tragedy can strike and the importance of remaining vigilant.”
Wardens also encountered a wide range of serious situations: vessel collisions, a hit‑and‑run involving a personal watercraft, medical emergencies, arrests for controlled substances, suspected human trafficking cases, and the rescue of a kayaker who spent nearly three hours in the water without a life jacket after capsizing.
Education remained a priority throughout the weekend. Volunteers with TPWD’s Adopt‑A‑Ramp program made 393 contacts with boaters at Joe Pool Lake, Lake Lavon and Lake Bastrop, sharing safety information before vessels launched. At Cedar Hill State Park, TPWD hosted a Fill the Boat life jacket donation event, collecting adult, youth, infant and even canine life jackets for future distribution at loaner stations.
VanderRoest emphasized that Operation Dry Water worked exactly as intended: identifying and removing impaired operators before harm occurred. Still, he noted, “the safest holiday weekend is one where everyone chooses to avoid alcohol and drugs on the water.”
Texas Game Wardens will continue proactive patrols and outreach throughout the summer, urging boaters to wear properly fitted life jackets, designate sober operators, monitor weather conditions and complete boater education.
