Safety is the goal for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and its plan to heighten patrols on the county’s lakes for the upcoming summer holiday weekend.
Dubbed “Operation Dry Water,” the plan is to expand patrols waterways from Thursday through Saturday, July 4-6.
“We know the Fourth of July holiday is the focal point of summer for many families,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “No matter whether you’re behind the wheel of a car or operating a boat, don’t drink alcohol and drive. Protect yourself, your family, and your friends. We want everyone to enjoy the many things that make Oakland County such an attractive destination, but we want the holiday to be a safe one.”
The sheriff wants people to enjoy the holiday weekend with friends and family and gladly touts the 450 navigable lakes and 83,000 registered boats in the county, but he emphasizes that it must be done safely.
The sheriff’s office has the largest marine unit the save, and additional marine deputy patrols will be on the lakes this weekend.
With more than 45 part-time marine deputies, the goal is to patrol to prevent dangerous behavior but also to respond quickly when someone goes underwater or an accident occurs.
“The unit includes the 17-member Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, comprised of full-time deputies who are highly trained in search and rescue and public safety diving. They can dive in virtually any weather or water condition,” the sheriff’s office said in its announcement.
“The unit has 23 patrol boats, three rapid response jump boats, one hovercraft, seven all-terrain vehicles, and six specialty boats and is equipped with SONAR and AquaEyes for
search and rescue emergencies. The Sheriff’s Office also contracts with 12 communities to patrol 19 lakes: Cass Lake, Cedar Island Lake, Deer Lake, Lake Orion, Lower Straits Lake, Lake Sherwood, Lakeville Lake, Maceday Lake, North Commerce Lake, Orchard Lake, Pine Lake, South Commerce Lake, Sylvan Lake, Upper Long Lake, Voorheis Lake, Walled Lake, Walnut Lake, White Lake, and Williams Lake.”
The sheriff’s office notes that a blood content higher than 0.08 is illegal in most states and in federal waters.
“It is illegal in every state to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which includes canoes and rowboats,” the sheriff’s office said.
While not the heat wave from last month, the weather will be warmer for the holiday weekend, according to accuweather.com.
On Wednesday, the high could reach the upper 80s with a chance of a storm and conditions both breezy and humid.
On Thursday, the Fourth, the high will be in the mid-to-upper 80s with intervals of sunshine and some clouds.
On Friday, it will be in the lower 80s with some showers and/or storms, again humid.
Saturday will see a little cooler day with the highs expected in the upper 70s, and Sunday will see mostly sunny skies in the mid-80s.
Two hurt in separate Oakland County lake incidents on the Fourth of July