By Maureen Daniels – July 2024

The truth is, the vast majority of folks follow the rules, play well with others, and take responsibility for their actions. It is helpful to keep this in mind as we continue to experience challenges about fair use of our beautiful, geographically limited resource, Lake Anna.

Clearly, the dynamics on our Lake have changed dramatically over the years. There has been an obvious increase in boat traffic with more and more people enjoying a wide range of water sports from low key, relaxing, to demanding, high energy. Boats and jet skis are bigger and faster, and some boats are specifically engineered to produce huge man-made waves that allow riders to surf behind.

The challenge for Lake Anna is to achieve a safe, positive coexistence where everyone can enjoy his/her own pursuit of H2O happiness without interfering with someone else’s right to do the same.

We are all a little to a lot guilty of being self-absorbed and oblivious while engaged in our favorite activities on the water. We get so focused on fishing, skiing, tubing, jet skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing—whatever—we lose situational awareness and that can put ourselves and others at risk.

Let’s get down to basics. . .

Attitude—Having fun on the water requires a serious attitude about safety.

We all share common goals: get out on the water, engage in our preferred pastimes, enjoy making memories, and have the best time ever!

The other, more consequential goal that sometimes gets lost in the “fun in the sun” mentality is one’s responsibility to avoid accidents and bring everyone back to home base without injury. Pay attention. Stay alert. Maintain a safe speed. Keep your head on a swivel. Think safety. Boat safely.

Behavior—Your behavior on the water reflects your attitude about safety. It indicates how much you know and embrace adherence to state laws and basic safety standards.

For example, do this quick indicator of where you are on the “safe to dangerous” behavioral scale:

Do you. . .

•  Make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket? Have all state mandated safety equipment on board?

•  Obey all No Wake zones (whether the police are watching or not.)

•  Stay at least 50 ft from fixed objects like docks, ramps, people in the water?

•  Ever monitor your wake to see how it is affecting those around you?

•  Cut across the bow of other boats?

•  Tow, ski, wakeboard, wake surf, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or fish in the busiest or narrowest parts of the Lake? What if someone goes down in that high traffic area?

•  Allow anyone to ride on the gunwales (sides), sun deck, or dangle feet off the bow while underway? How about your pets?

•  Overload your boat or jet ski beyond capacity?

How did you do? All good? Any room for improvement?

Most accidents on the water are the result of human error. Inattention, inexperience, and bad judgement are leading causes of incidents/fatalities. Think safety. Boat safely.

Common Sense—is uncommon in many circumstances. The basis for a peaceful coexistence among many water enthusiasts doing many different things lies in a communal sense of common courtesy, respect, civility, manners and patience.

Let’s all do our part. Fair use. Fair play. Fair enough!

mo.daniels@lakeannavirginia.org