Boats are reflected in the water at Utah Lake's Lindon Marina in Vineyard on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Yukai Peng, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — Those who manage boating programs at Utah state parks say the drought we’re experiencing this year will likely impact Utah boaters.
Utah State Parks Boating Program Manager Ty Hunter told KSL Newsradio some Utah reservoirs are already low, and launching from certain boat ramps may become difficult or impossible.
“It may mean that your favorite boating area might have some restrictions,” Huner said. “The ramp might run out there, and you need to look for different places and different areas to go.”
And if you do end up boating in different places, Hunter said, that can cause some challenges as well.
“Because you may be boating on unfamiliar water.”
According to the webpage operated by Utah State Parks, low water levels can expose navigation hazards that could rattle even an experienced boater.
Some of the Utah boating laws, rules, and safety practices include:
Along with the potential for dangerous boating conditions, Hunter told KSL that Utah State Parks officials could end up closing some reservoirs for boating much earlier in the season than in previous years.
Boaters can check the status of boat ramp conditions here.
Utah State Parks also offers information about how to choose the correct life jacket, here.