s many of you know, there has been a number of boating related accidents on the Missouri River in the past couple of weeks. For this reason, we felt it appropriate to review some of the rules and regulations that all boaters should follow, regardless of whether you are boating on the river or an area lake.
 

Obviously, this means the waterways are getting more crowded and boat owners need to be that much more aware of their surroundings. 

Injuries have jumped from 10 to 49. Fortunately in 2001, there were no fatalities reported in Nebraska and only 1 in Iowa. We are not so lucky this year.

While many of us on the river are seasoned boaters and know the risks, there are more new boaters than ever before. It's been our observation that many of these new boaters are oblivious to the danger signs you need to watch for. With the decrease in water levels because of drought conditions, this awareness is even more important than ever before. Obstacles in the river may appear in places where you never knew they were. 

To prevent hitting something submerged (like a rock wing dike), which can cause severe damage to your boat and possibly result in injuries, follow these rules: Navigate your boat in the channel side of the river and when crossing with the channel to the opposite bank, use the DAYMARK insignias as steering targets.  - follow the same navigation rules as commercial river captains!

The current in the Missouri River is very swift and can be deadly. Anyone who decides to go into the water to cool off should always wear a life jacket, regardless of how good of a swimmer you think you are. Also, remember the increase in boat traffic also means an increase in wake. 

Review the boating rules of how you should pass another boat and especially to all you out there operating Personal Water Craft - please be careful of what you are doing when trying to jump wake from some of the larger boats. Getting caught in someone's prop will more than likely end your life.

The following is a year-to-date list of the recent accidents that have  occurred on our local Missouri River which resulted in death.
Date:	Sometime in October 2001 (Day unknown)
Location:	Sioux City, IA. (MM-732)
Identification:	Donald Woolridge, 76, of Sioux City, IA.
Situation:	Died of natural causes. Presumed fell into Missouri River near Sioux City, IA.
Recovery:	Body discovered June 20, 2002, in rock dike jetty near Tysons Bend (MM-655). Recovered at Blair, NE Cottonwood Marina boat ramp. (MM-651)
Date:	Sometime before April 25, 2002
Location:	Omaha, NE or Council Bluffs, IA area (MM-617)
Identification:	Calvin R. Russel
Situation:	UNK - Not determined.
Recovery:	Badly decomposed body discovered by fisherman April 25 at 4 PM just So. of So. Omaha Bridge, tangled in driftwood. Recovered by dive teams at Long's Landing Park boat ramp. (MM-606.3)
Date:	Thursday June 27, 2002
Location:	Remington's Landing, near MM-672.5 at Iowa's Deer Island St. Game Mgt. Area
Identification:	Troy Hodge, 27 of Little Sioux, Iowa
Situation:	Drowned while wading in the Missouri about 20 feet from shore.
Recovery:	Body discovered same day by rescue squads about 15 feet from the shoreline in a pocket of water that is about 15 feet deep.
Date:	Saturday June 29, 2002
Location:	Dock near Tysons Landing, NE on Lower Tysons Bend (MM-654)
Identification:	Daniel Kahnk, 34, of Kennard, NE
Situation:	NE Game and Parks and Iowa DNR officers, on joint river patrol, had boat of 3 men at location for citation of no nav lights. Officers heard splash when Kahnk went into water. victim could not swim. Driver of the boat, Gary Novak, 46, of Kenard, NE was arrested for BWI. Incident under investigation as of 07/09/2002.
Recovery:	Body discovered Monday July 1 floating just south of the Blair, NE Optimist Boat Ramp. Recovered same day from river at Blair, NE Optimist Boat Ramp  (MM 648.4)
Date:	Monday July 1, 2002
Location:	Middle of Missouri River just south of Blair, NE (MM-648.3)
Identification:	Michael Bakhit, of Eagle, NE
Situation:	Jumped from boat in middle of river to retrieve fallen hat and disappeared. Female companion in boat called 911 at approx 5 PM.  07/10: Washington County Sheriff's Office said the boating accident remains under investigation.
Recovery:	Body Discovered Thursday July 4 floating near the Illinois Central RR Swing Bridge (MM-618.3) by boater. Recovered same day at Narrows River Park Boat Ramp - North of Council Bluffs, IA (MM 619.3)
Date:	Thursday July 4, 2002
Location:	Missouri River Middle Calhoun Bend (MM 639.5)
Identification:	Teri Reid, 41, Omaha, NE
Situation:	Victim fell from boat into river, was then struck by boat from which she had fallen. Driver of the boat was arrested for BWI -  07/10: Washington County Sheriff's Office said the boating accident remains under investigation.
Recovery:	Immediately recovered and taken by medical helicopter to Creighton Univ. Med. Center, where she was pronounced dead.

In order to prevent the situations outlined above, please review the following Rules and Regulations when operating your watercraft. If you see someone not following these rules, it may be a good idea to let them know that they are not only subjecting themselves to a dangerous situation but also those around them.

RULES AND REGULATIONS - Points to Remember
	All vessels are responsible for any discomfort or injury to other persons or damage to vessels caused by their wake.
	Swimmers have the right of way at all times over all vessels.
	Any vessel not operating under mechanical power and any anchored vessel shall have the right of way over any vessel operating under mechanical power. Motorboat operators shall give such vessels reasonable clearance, so the wash and wake does not unnecessarily disturb said boats.
	Only authorized emergency-rescue or law enforcement vessels may be equipped with or use flashing red/blue lights or sirens.
	Any operator observing flashing red/blue lights on an approaching vessel shall immediately stop.
	Those navigating or attempting to navigate any stream-or river with non-powered vessels may portage or otherwise transport their vessel around any fence or obstruction in such stream or river.
RULES AND REGULATIONS - Unlawful Practices
	It is unlawful to operate or give permission for the operation of a vessel that is not equipped as required.
	It is unlawful to for any operator to exceed the speed posted or charted in any specific zone or area. Under all other circumstances speed must be reasonable and proper in consideration of the prevailing conditions.
	Speeds exceeding 5 mph are illegal at all times in or within 30 yards of any vessel, harbor, marina, landing pier, fishing pier, anchorage or bathing beach.
	It is unlawful to wake jump with a motorized vessel within 30 yards of another craft.
	Operating a motorboat with a blood alcohol content of .08% or greater constitutes Boating Under the Influence (BUI) and carries a penalty of up to $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail and the loss of boating privileges for six months. Refusal to submit to a chemical blood alcohol text will result in the same penalties as BUI.
	Personal watercraft cannot under any circumstances be operated from sunset to sunrise.
	Operation of vessels is prohibited within an area marked off or set aside as a prohibited area.
	Swimming or bathing is prohibited in any marinas or within 20 yards of launching, mooring or docking areas.
	No vessel may be tied off or attached to any buoy, marker or navigational aid on any waters in this state.
	It is unlawful to place or leave, in any public waters, any vessel not safe for operation.
	No child under 12 is allowed aboard any vessel when not wearing a Coast Guard-approved life preserver except when hunting waterfowl in an anchored boat. Operators shall be held responsible.
	No one under 14 shall operate motorboats of any class at any time. Owners shall be held responsible.
	Each personal watercraft operator must wear a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch if the personal watercraft is equipped by the manufacturer.
	Effective May 1, 2000, any person under the age of 16 years shall not operate a personal watercraft unless he or she has completed a Boating Safety Course and is in possession of a valid Boating Safety Certificate.
	Unsafe Vessels - OVERLOADING-No overloaded vessels shall be operated on the waters of this state. All vessels when loaded must retain at least one-half of the total depth of the boat above the water when measured at the center of the vessel and must meet the requirement of the manufacture's capacity plate.  If any conservation officer or other law enforcement official of this state observes a vessel being operated without the proper equipment or with any other unsafe condition, he may direct the operator to correct the situation immediately or return to mooring until the hazard is corrected.