Grand River Dam Authority Police Department
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EMERGENCY 911 GRDA Police 918-256-0911
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Share the Lake, Part 1
GRDA Regulations pertaining to wake violations mandate that you are required by law to be at idle speed any time you are within 150 feet of any structure, including docks, bridges, boat ramps, anchored vessels or marked No Wake zones. "Normal Idle Speed" means the vessel is in the forward gear with no additional throttle applied. But the reality is, like drivers that ignore speed limit signs, boaters often drive faster than they should in a no wake area, plus many visitors to our lakes, especially those from out of state or operators that are not familiar with boating laws may not know the regulations that apply to boating.
GRDA Police regularly receive calls from property owners on the lakes voicing concerns about the damage created by boat wakes. Dock owners and lakeside businesses have a great deal of money invested in their docks, and the constant bombardment of excessive wakes create damage to the structures and docked boats resulting in expensive repairs. Plus, they have the constant concern that as their family and friends enjoy a swim or paddlecraft in the lake near their docks that an errant boater may put them in harms’ way from excessive wakes and operating too close to their loved ones in the water, or that someone on the dock could be ejected off the dock from a high wake. On top of that, the constant waves and wakes created by passing boats creates erosion to the shoreline.
Of course the flip side of that issue is that GRDA lakes are public waters, and boaters have the right to go anywhere on the lake that has not been restricted by officials. GRDA Police have taken a number of steps over the years to try to mitigate these conflicts. For instance, the installation of No Wake buoys in high traffic areas and the designation of special speed restrictions for larger vessels in some areas of the lake helps to reduce the destructive wakes created by large boats.
The advancement of technology in recent years has shifted the focus of complaints away from the larger vessels creating wakes to smaller boats used for wake boarding, since they are manufactured to create a large wake. These boats now have innovative designs to produce larger wakes for surfers that cleave large, clean wakes to ride, which while fun, can damage shoreline, docks, and other boats according to some lakefront residents. Officials are now being placed in the middle of the debate of allowing small vessels to maintain plane speed, while trying to solve the issue of the large wakes created by wake boats that do not fit the criteria of special idle speed in specially designated areas of the lake. Nationally, other states have grappled with bans on wake-enhancing devices in response to concerns about shoreline erosion and other issues. The problem has been growing each year as a result of an increase in the number of boats on the water, as well as an increase in the popularity of wakeboarding. The busy season we have had this year has exacerbated the number of complaints received by police, who are now in the position of trying to solve what has become a property dispute between home owners who live on the water and use boats themselves, and those who want to use the water for the day.
This is not to suggest that the use of wake boats should be regulated or restricted, but to invoke discussion on their use and how they can affect lakeside properties, other boaters and paddlecraft. The height of a wake is directly related to the vessel’s speed, the shape of the vessel’s hull, how it is operated and the water depth, so any boat can create wakes large enough to generate complaints if not operated properly.
One of the reasons for the success of Grand Lake is the safety component of which GRDA has a large investment, and we are constantly looking at improvements that increase the overall safety around the lake. Restricting large vessels, wakesurfing or the use of wake boats in certain areas are a possible solution recommended by some. The regulation of wakeboarding, skiing or tubing within 200 feet of any structure or the shore could also be mandated to reduce these conflicts. But, nobody, including GRDA officials, want more regulations in an attempt to resolve these constant complaints between property owners and boaters. But that may be the only course of action in the future if we cannot police ourselves.
In Part 2 of this series we will examine best practices for boaters and dock owners to help eliminate some of these problems.
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Homeowner Suspicions Lead to Arrest
Our lake area residents and businesses are the best assets that we have as law enforcement officers, because you are the ones that know what may be out of place in your area. This was proven recently when a homeowner called the GRDA Police about a suspicious subject in the Blue Bluff area of Elk River. The homeowner reported seeing an individual on a PWC, at an abandoned dock near his home close to Blue Bluff Marina. What really raised his suspicion was the fact that the individual had covered up the registration decals on the PWC.
Fortunately the homeowner took the initiative to contact GRDA Police to report his observations. Officers responded to the area and initially could not locate anyone. But a short time later, the homeowner called police again after he saw the individual was at the Blue Bluff Marina. Officers located the subject there, and upon contacting police the subject provided a false name to officers, and then fled the area on foot. Officers gave chase, and eventually found the individual hiding inside a garage in the area where he was taken into custody without incident.
Through interviews with witnesses to the incident, officer observations, and an investigation completed at the scene, officers learned the true identity of the suspect, made contact with the owner of the PWC, and confirmed that it was indeed stolen, although not yet discovered or reported stolen by the owner.
This incident resulted in the arrest of 37 year old Matthew Fisher. His charges include Possession of a Stolen Vessel, Falsely Personate Another to Create Liability, Possession of Controlled Dangerous Drugs, a Felony warrant out of Newton County Missouri as well as several local warrants.
The suspect in this case is believed to be involved in several area thefts in the Elk River area, and investigators are working to locate property and further the investigation. If anyone has any information that may assist in the investigation, please contact the GRDA Police.
This incident was a perfect of example of citizen-police intervention to stop a crime in progress. Although not recognized as a crime initially, it was the observations and suspicions of a homeowner who took the initiative to report his suspicions to police that resulted in the arrest of a subject for committing a crime in progress that had not yet been discovered, and potentially helped in the discovery of other crimes committed. We can’t do it without YOU!
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Boat Sought in
Hit & Run
GRDA Police are attempting to locate the owner and driver of a vessel that struck a private dock in Duck Creek on August 15 at 5:17 PM. The vessel shown in the photo below struck the dock shown causing significant damage, and left the scene without reporting the incident. The vessel may have damage to the front.
Anyone that can provide details on the owner, operator or registration numbers for the below vessel should contact GRDA Police at 918-256-0911.
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Under the Executive Order of the Governor, we continue to implement the Open Up and Recover Safely plan. GRDA maintains necessary services to the public under restrictions under Phase 3 of the plan implemented on June 1.
- All GRDA facilities will remain closed to the public, including the Eco Center in Langley. We have implemented the process of returning staff to facilities, including Eco, but all public meetings and events will remain restricted with strict access control implemented at all GRDA facilities. The Pensacola Dam will not be open for public tours.
- You can continue to do business with GRDA personnel on line and by phone. Many of our administrative personnel continue to be assigned to work at home or off-site and can be contacted by email and phone.
- GRDA Police will allow permitted public events on GRDA lakes and properties. All permitted events must adhere to guidelines published by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- GRDA Police will continue participation at public information and education events effective June 1.
- The GRDA Police Department will continue to follow procedures established by state and federal authorities to protect you and our personnel by maintaining personal distances. This may require that officers conduct more of our investigations without personal contact, by phone and email. When officers do respond to a call for service, they may ask people to come outside; we will only enter your property if needed.
- Our personnel may be wearing protective gear, such as masks, glasses and gloves. This is done to protect you and the officers from community spread. While community engagement is vital to us, it must take a different form when we are dealing with a contagious virus.
- GRDA officers will be enforcing social distancing requirements. We ask that you adhere to protocols and guidelines published by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
- Even though the OURS plan is allowing more public gatherings, this pandemic continues to affect us in this region, so we will limit unnecessary contacts and respond to calls for service by doing more contacts by phone and prioritizing our responses. This may include the reduction of contacts for minor violations.
We will continue to maintain contact with you through electronic communication to keep our social distances appropriate. Please continue to invoke the strategies needed to maintain appropriate distances from other people, practice good hygiene by frequently washing your hands, protect your personnel and the public.
Our goal is to continue to provide the service you expect, but we must protect our personnel so that we can provide the assistance you will need in the future. We will do whatever we can to get through these challenging times.
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Do You Need Current Lake Information?
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Go to the GRDA Storm Ops web page to get current data including lake levels, lake parameters, storage details, flow conditions and much more.
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Did You Know?
Accidents on the water can happen much too fast to reach and put on a stowed life jacket. Drowning is the reported cause of death in 77 percent of all boating fatalities – and 84 percent of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket in 2018.
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"Updates" on the Web
If you didn't receive our latest GRDA Update or you have a friend that wants to see our Updates, go to our website at https://www.grda.com/grda-police/ and click on the GRDA POLICE UPDATE for the latest version of our email release or to Join Our Email List.
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NAV TIME
A Summary of Boating Laws, Navigation Regulations & Tips
That All Boat Operators Should Know
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Night Speed Limit
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vessel upon the waters of GRDA, between the hours of one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise at any speed in excess of twenty-five (25) miles per hour.
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Boating Tips From
Americas Boating Club
Grand Lake
The boats attitude affects its efficiency, steering and how it takes the waves which impacts comfort and speed. Raising the bow properly can increase speed by reducing the amount of hull in the water and decreasing drag. But if the water is choppy, getting the bow down will help the boat cut through waves providing a more comfortable ride with less “pounding” and better control. Each boat responds differently depending on its hull design, how it is loaded and the prevailing wind and water conditions. Proper trimming of the boat by adjusting the trim tabs if available, or carefully trimming the outboard or I/O drives is very important.
Are you interested in joining a boating club on Grand Lake to have fun, plus the opportunity to take courses online or in the classroom to improve your boating skills and knowledge? Visit online americasboatingclub.org or usps.org/grandlake, on Facebook: America’s boating club-grand lake for more information.
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Do you have a Special Event Planned?
PLEASE let us know about your lake or river events so we can provide the resources you may need to make it a positive experience!
If you have a special event you would like for us to help you promote,
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2020 Special Events Schedule
September 5: Redneck Raft out, Check In Bay, Grand Lake
September 5: Blue Bluff Harbor Labor Day, Grand Lake
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GRDA Police Dispatch 918-256-0911
GRDA Ecosystems and Education Center 918-782-4726
GRDA Lake Permits 918-256-0852
GRDA Pensacola Dam Tours & Facility Information 918-256-0899
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