SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Private, Public Partnership Kicks-Off Summer Boating Season
A group of safe boating partners will kick off the boating season during a National Safe Boating Week event Thursday, May 27, at Lake Mead Marina at 11 a.m.
The National Park Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Lotus Radio and a large group of Lake Mead National Recreation Area concessionaires have teamed up for the second year in a row to promote outdoor recreation and boating safety up and down the Colorado River with a kick-off event featuring boating safety information, an inflatable life jacket demonstration and bags of boating safety information.
“Keeping our visitors safe and coming back defines what we do,” said David Pfiffner, Nevada’s boating law administrator in Las Vegas. “We want safe boaters, and we want our visitors to see the value of outdoor recreation right here at the doorstep of Las Vegas.”
The summer long boating safety program has two purposes: encourage boaters to visit the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and secondly to encourage safe boating during the summer season. The joint program features weekly prize drawings, public service announcements, and boating safety events at the recreation area throughout the summer.
Boaters or outdoor enthusiasts that attend the event can register for the summer prize drawing. Following the event, the program will offer weekly drawings sponsored by businesses at the recreation area in addition to events held by partnering agencies, such as voluntary boating safety inspections and promotional events held at marinas throughout the summer. These events will be announced throughout the summer to keep people informed about safety and to encourage visitors to enjoy the lake.
“The recreation area has some of the best boating in the country,” said Darla Cook, vice president of public relations at Forever Resorts, one of the dozens of vendors that contributed to the prize packages. “In tough times, we want to make sure people go home safe and give them an extra reason to come and see us.”
The Thursday event coincides with the start of National Safe Boating Week, May 22-28. This week is the traditional start of boating season around the country, leading into the Memorial Day Weekend.
“We take safe very seriously at the recreation area,” said William Dickinson, Superintendent of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. “Along with our focus on safety, we want people to know that we have a great resource here for people with all kinds of interests, from boating to wildlife watching to fishing.”
There will be announcements of other events and prize packages offered to boaters throughout the summer. Boaters can qualify to win the prizes available by visiting events announced throughout the summer, or boaters can visit www.funonthelake.com and enter the drawing at the joint web site.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for the restoration, protection and management of fish and wildlife resources, and the promotion of boating safety on Nevada’s waters. Wildlife offices are located in Las Vegas, Henderson, Winnemucca, Fallon, Elko, and Reno. For more information, contact the agency web site at www.ndow.org.
