By the Nevada Department of Wildlife
With the arrival of spring, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) reminds kayakers, canoe users and paddle boaters of all kinds that they are subject to the same equipment requirements and boating regulations as every other boat on the water.
With the growth in popularity of paddle sports, game wardens and other officers who patrol Nevada’s waterways for boating safety have noticed that many paddlers are unaware of the basic boating rules that apply to all boaters, including the requirement that all boaters carry life jackets for every person aboard a boat.
“We’ve seen tremendous growth of this segment of boaters,” said Captain David Pfiffner, Nevada’s boating law administrator. “We’re delighted that people are getting outdoors and taking advantage of Nevada’s amazing recreation opportunities, but we just ask boaters to take a few minutes and learn the basic safety rules of boating.”
Game wardens are seeing a growth in paddle sports in every part of Nevada, from stand up paddle boarding at Lakes Tahoe and Mead to white water kayaking on the Truckee River.
Most experienced whitewater enthusiasts understand the need for life jackets, but the growth of the sport is bringing less educated boaters to Nevada waters across the state, according to Pfiffner.
The water in the northern half of Nevada in Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River for example is extremely cold this time of year, making Northern Nevada paddling even more perilous.
The white water park in Reno will have cold, fast and dangerous runoff well into June this year, and boaters should be careful of conditions.
Another segment of paddle craft users game wardens are seeing are those people using “stand up paddleboards.” Many of these boaters are under the mistaken impression that they are not operating a “boat.” However, the U.S. Coast Guard has declared that paddle boards are a vessel and as such all must follow the same rules as canoes and kayaks, and life jackets are absolutely required. If a paddler stays out after dark, he or she is also required to carry a flashlight on board to be able to signal other vessels.
“We tell paddlers every day that they need to think of themselves as boaters,” said Dave Law, the Coast Guard Auxiliary liaison to Nevada. “We see so many standup paddle boarders without life jackets, and they don’t realize they are one fall away from drowning.”
Stand up paddleboards are showing up on every Nevada waterway. On warmer waters, such as Lakes Mead and Mohave, game wardens are seeing numerous issues involving these types of boats.
“Paddlers are also not supposed to operate the paddle board in designated swim areas,” said Lieutenant Mike Maynard, the game warden who oversees Nevada’s southern region. “Paddlers should also be aware of other areas closed to vessel traffic, which will be clearly identified with regulatory markers. The bottom line is that paddlers are subject to all the same rules of any other boat.”
Paddling is growing in Nevada and nationwide. The growth of this fun, relatively inexpensive and healthy activity is a positive for Nevada recreation, according to Pfiffner. Boaters can follow just a few simple rules to make sure this activity remains a positive experience for all boaters.
