Boating, paddling and swimming season has begun on Lake Tahoe and at other local waterways, and it’s important to practice safety and understand boating laws in the high-altitude lakes in the region.
Cold water shock | The water is cold; really cold. If you’re not acclimated to swimming in frigid waters, don’t jump in. Sudden immersion in cold water can stimulate the gasp reflex, causing an involuntary inhalation of air or water. It can even trigger cardiac arrest, temporary paralysis or hypothermia that results in drowning. Always wear a personal flotation device when paddling off shore.
Know your limits | Swimming in open water is more difficult than in a swimming pool and it reduces body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air does at the same temperature.
Supervise kids | Actively supervise children in and around open bodies of water, giving them undivided attention. Appoint a designated water watcher, taking turns with other adults.
Know the law | Every child under age 13 must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket when on a moving recreational vessel, including kayaks and paddleboards.
Every person on a personal watercraft and being towed behind a vessel must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
No-wake zones | Lake Tahoe doesn’t allow boat wakes within 600 feet of shore to reduce erosion and noise pollution.
Look for divers | A red flag with a white diagonal stripe means divers are underwater nearby. Avoid these areas with your boat.
5 mph zones | There is a 5-mph zone in all of Emerald Bay and within 100 feet of other boats and paddlers, 200 feet of buoys and piers and 600 feet of shore. | boatcalifornia.com
