The National Kickoff Event kicked off a comprehensive awareness and enforcement weekend July 3-5, as law enforcement agencies in all 56 U.S. states and territories prepare to combat boating through education and enforcement.
Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 30 June 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 2026 operation dry water The national kickoff event took place Monday in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, officially kicking off this year’s July 3-5 Awareness and Enforcement Weekend, as thousands of law enforcement officers across the United States prepare to increase boating safety education and enforcement efforts during one of the busiest boating holidays of the year.
Hosted by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Nevada Wildlife Department and Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, the National Kickoff Event brought together national, state and local boating safety leaders, law enforcement officials and safety advocates to strengthen their shared commitment to prevent alcohol and drug-related boating incidents and deaths.
Every Independence Day weekend, millions of Americans take to the water with family and friends during one of the busiest sailing holidays of the year. according to US Coast Guard’s 2024 Recreational Boating StatisticsJuly recorded the highest number of recreational boating incidents, injuries and deaths of any month, underscoring the importance of safe, responsible boating throughout the holiday weekend.
Alcohol remains the leading known contributing factor in recreational boating deaths across the country. *Boating conditions such as sun, wind, heat, vibration and motion can intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs and certain medications, increasing the risk of incidents, injuries and death for all people on board the boat.
Launched in 2009 by National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) In partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, Operation Dry Water is a year-long national campaign dedicated to reducing alcohol and drug-related boating incidents and deaths through education, outreach and coordinated law enforcement efforts. Each year, those efforts culminate in a nationwide heightened awareness and enforcement weekend, when law enforcement agencies in all 56 U.S. states and territories increase patrols, educate boaters, enforce boating under the influence laws and remove impaired operators from the nation’s waterways.
“Success is not measured by the number of citations written,” said Taylor Kirsche, NASBLA’s chief operating officer. “It is measured by the number of families who reach home safely.”
Since the campaign began, participating law enforcement officers have removed more than 7,900 impaired boat operators from the nation’s waterways and made more than 3.3 million boater contacts through education and enforcement efforts. Each educational contact and each impaired operator removed represents another opportunity to prevent a tragedy before it occurs.
“People who boat while impaired not only put themselves in danger,” said Sheriff Shannon Dickus of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. “They put passengers, other boaters, swimmers and even first responders at risk.”
“Each impaired boating accident creates a ripple effect that affects far more than just the people involved,” said Alex Brazeau, program director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Nevada and Arizona. “It impacts families, friends, first responders and entire communities.”
Operation Dry Water combines education, public outreach and coordinated enforcement with strong partnerships between local, state and federal agencies to reduce alcohol and drug-related boating incidents and save lives.
“Boating education is more than just meeting a need,” said Ramona Fernandez, deputy director of the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways and California’s boating law administrator. “This gives boaters the knowledge to make safe decisions and protect everyone on the water.”
“Combating impaired boating requires a coordinated effort,” said Todd Radabaugh, BUI program manager for NASBLA’s Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) program. “Operation Dry Water is successful because of the dedicated partnerships behind it. When law enforcement agencies, boating safety professionals and outreach partners work together with a shared commitment to education and enforcement, we can make a real difference in preventing impaired boating and saving lives.”
While officers will increase patrols across the country during the July 3-5 campaign weekend, officials stressed that Operation Dry Water is not about limiting recreational boating. It’s about helping to ensure everyone can enjoy the country’s waterways safely and responsibly.
“We’re not trying to take away anyone’s ability to enjoy our waterways,” said Maj. Danny Rodriguez, boating law administrator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “We’re here to help make sure everyone can enjoy them safely.”
Law enforcement agencies representing all 56 U.S. states and territories, along with federal, state and local partners, will participate in the three-day awareness and enforcement weekend by increasing public outreach and enforcing boating under impact laws on waterways across the country.
Whether driving a boat or enjoying the ride as a passenger, everyone plays a role in keeping the country’s waterways safe. This Independence Day weekend, choose a boat free of alcohol and drugs because everyone deserves a safe return home.
For more information about Operation Dry Water, campaign resources and participating agencies, visit operationdrywater.org.
*2024 US Coast Guard recreational boating statistics
About Operation Dry Water
operation dry water is a year-long national campaign coordinated by National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) In partnership with the US Coast Guard. Created under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, the campaign works to reduce alcohol and drug-related boating incidents and deaths through education, outreach and coordinated law enforcement efforts.
Source Operation Dry Water