Advice for boaters: Check forecast, don’t bring weed

An estimated 150,000 people are expected to visit Lake Mead National Recreation Area over Memorial Day weekend. And law enforcement officials are ready with game wardens patrolling the waters for lawbreakers and stranded boaters.

“Basically, we do everything that a city of Henderson or Las Vegas Metro cop would do on the street,” Nevada Department of Wildlife Game Warden Chris Walther said. “We’re here to serve the public.”

Reckless operation is one of the most common infractions on the lake, according to Nick Duhe, the department’s boating education coordinator for Southern Nevada.

That includes hanging off a boat while it’s being operated, using a smaller vessel like a personal watercraft to splash other people, or interfering with boats towing skiers or inner tubes.

The most common cause of boat accidents? The combination of drinking and boating.

Boaters can operate a vessel with an open container, unlike drivers, but their blood alcohol level must not exceed the legal .08 limit.

It’s OK to bring alcohol to Lake Mead, but leave the marijuana at home, Duhe said.

Although pot use and possession is legal in the state, “this is a federal park so you can’t come out here and, you know, smoke weed. At all,” he warned.

Walther said alcohol consumption can have fatal consequences on the water. Many drownings at Lake Mead occur when someone not wearing a life vest becomes intoxicated, he said.