They’ve lain in wait just below the water’s surface for weeks, ready to grab local boats and drag them to the bottom of Chattanooga lakes and rivers.
And Tennessee Valley Authority police worry that, on Memorial Day, they’ll finally strike.
“It’s very important for people to look out for fallen trees and debris,” TVA Officer David Bowen said. “Be extra cautious. Keep a lookout. Pay attention. Look where you’re going. If you see something, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
April’s tornadoes sent countless branches, trees and other debris into Hamilton County waters. TVA recently flushed dams, largely clearing most areas, but it’s difficult to tell what lurks just below the surface, ready to tear open an unaware or unlucky boater’s hull.
The biggest danger to boaters isn’t the debris, it’s what happens after a boat flips or starts to sink.
District Boating Officer Brian Letner said most fatalities occur when boaters aren’t wearing or can’t reach life vests.
“If I can stress one thing, it’s life jacket use,” he said. “You just can’t put a price on lives, and wearing a life jacket is a small price.”
Children younger than 12 years old are required by law to wear a life vest whenever a boat isn’t anchored or tied to a dock, but Bowen said anyone on the water should wear a vest in case an accident knocks them out or sends them into a strong current.
“A professional swimmer would have a tough time swimming with some of these currents,” he said.
Boater traffic already has been somewhat high, according to Bowen. Traffic is expected to shoot up for Memorial Day with thousands of boats crowding the waters of places such as Chickamauga Lake. Traffic should remain at those levels throughout the summer weekends and holidays, officials predict.
Letner said noise complaints were a big issue last season, and noise restrictions will be more aggressively enforced this year.
Law enforcement also will be on the lookout for dangerous boat drivers. Letner said TVA makes about 130 boating DUI arrests statewide every year, about 40 of which come from Hamilton County, largely because of Chattanooga’s population density.
Alcohol can be particularly harder to handle on the open water, according to Bowen.
“‘Sea legs’ intensifies the effect,” he said. “The sun, the motion, all of these things have an effect on the body.”
BOATING SAFETY TIPS
* Watch out for debris, other boaters and swimmers
* Always wear a life vest, or at least have a floatation device within reach
* Don’t allow children to boat or swim alone
* Never anchor a boat below a dam
* Always operate at safe speeds
Source: Tennessee Valley Authority