Boater Safety
PWC Equipment
Boating Safety Check
Activities on the Water Districts reservoirs are governed by the General Ordinance of the Tarrant Regional Water District, enacted by the Board of Directors March 19, 2002, in addition to all applicable state and federal regulations pertaining to inland waterways. The General Ordinance may be obtained at any Water District office or at the following link: General Ordinance
Following are excerpts from the Ordinance:
- Boats shall not tow or pull, by any means, a parasail or parachute on any Water District lake or reservoir, except by special permit. No occupants of any boat may position themselves to be on or to be hanging or dangling over the bow, stern, or sides of the boat while the boat is under way.
- No boat or watercraft shall pass under a bridge or highway overpass at a greater than headway speed.
- No watercraft, which is deemed to be unseaworthy, shall be permitted to operate on Water District lakes.
- No boat or watercraft shall approach closer than 100 feet to designated swimming areas or buoy-marked lines, except for launching and loading.
- No person controlling a watercraft shall leave the vessel without fastening it to an anchorage, either in the water or upon the land.
- No boat or watercraft shall approach closer than 100 feet at greater than headway speed to designated swimming areas, boathouses, docks, fisherman, shoreline or buoy marked, except for launching or loading.
- No boat or watercraft shall approach closer than 100 feet to any other boat or watercraft, at greater than headway speed.
- All persons riding personal watercrafts, wind surfing, skiing, aquaplaning or similar activities, are required to wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III or V personal floatation device.
- No person shall be at a distance of more than 100 feet from the shoreline unless accompanied by a boat, except within buoyed swimming areas.
- Except as provided in this section as to shotguns, no person may shoot, fire or discharge a firearm, explosive device, fireworks, pellet gun, BB gun, crossbow, longbow, slingshot or any other impact device in, on, across or along any Water District reservoir or lands, except by special permit.
- No airboat shall be allowed in or upon any Water District lake or reservoir, except by special permit.
- No watercraft shall serve as a place of abode.
- All watercraft with an enclosure capable of containing toilet facilities are required to affix to the windshield of such watercraft an inspection decal issued by the Water District.
- The operators of watercraft shall obey all wake signs, warning signs and buoys.
- PFD You and each of your passengers must wear an approved Personal Flotation Device.
- FIRE EXTINGUISHER A U.S. Coast Guard- approved fire extinguisher must be on board and stowed properly.
- GLASSES Goggles or sunglasses should be worn.
- LANYARD Engine shut-off must be attached to the operator.
- WHISTLE A whistle or other approved sound producing device must be onboard for signaling and warning.
- PERSONAL PROTECTION Wear deck shoes or tennis shoes for traction, gloves to help you maintain a good grip, and a wet suit to prevent hypothermia.
- TOW ROPE Keep a strong, well maintained long rope in your vessel.
- BOAT NUMBER See that you have a registration number and validation sticker properly displayed.
- STEERING See that the controls are working well.
- FUEL, OIL Check levels
- ENGINE Check compartment and ventilate before starting.
- LEAKS Check fuel lines, tank, oil tank, and exhaust.
- HOSES See that connections are tight and hoses are not cracked and/or leaking.
- BATTERY Charged, secure and fluid levels OK.
- PUMP INTAKE Free of debris.
- HULL Inspect for cracks, debris or damage.
- THROTTLE Good working order.
- LANYARD See that stop lanyard and start-stop switches are working.
- DOCUMENTS Carry an owners manual and registration onboard in a waterproof container.
- PFD You must have an approved Personal Floatation Device for each person on board.
- FIRE EXTINGUISHER A U.S. Coast Guard- approved fire extinguisher must be on board and stowed properly.