The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is renovating the Andrew Hulsey Lake Hamilton Access from July 13-17, adding two floating docks, improving parking, and creating a dedicated paddlecraft launch area. The upgrades aim to enhance convenience and safety for the heavily-used fishing access point near Hot Springs.
A 65-year-old San Leandro, California man was found unresponsive on his personal watercraft July 6 on Lewis and Clark Lake. Boaters rescued him and transported him to Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota, where he was pronounced dead. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officers are investigating the incident.
A section of the Flathead River will close to all watercraft from July 8-9 for steel girder installation on the Sportsman's Bridge project on Montana Highway 82 northwest of Bigfork. The closure extends approximately 20 feet upstream and 500 feet downstream of the bridge.
The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division will temporarily close Waterfront Public Boat Ramp on Lake Guntersville in Grant, Alabama starting July 13, 2026 for major upgrades including parking expansion, a new four-lane launching slab, and floating access pier. The facility is expected to remain closed for several months.
Mateo Franco Cifuentes, 29, of Biddeford drowned on July 1st after his kayak tipped over on Sabattus Pond. Cifuentes, who could not swim and was not wearing a personal floatation device, could not be saved despite rescue efforts by friends and bystanders. The Maine Warden Service is investigating the watercraft-related fatality.
Maine Warden Service divers recovered the body of Todd Bradeen, 51, of Standish, who drowned while paddleboarding on Lower Range Pond. Bradeen was not wearing a personal floatation device and did not have his leg tethered to the paddleboard when he fell in and was unable to catch up to it.
Jakub Prokop, 21, of Skowhegan drowned after being thrown from a 2006 Lund boat on the Kennebec River near Hinkley Boat Launch. Prokop was not wearing a lifejacket. The Maine Warden Service investigated with assistance from local fire and police departments.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and partner agencies including Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Bullhead City Police Department, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will increase patrols during Fourth of July weekend as part of Operation Dry Water, a national campaign to reduce alcohol-related boating accidents and fatalities.
Vermont's Warden Service and State Police, partnering with the National Association of Boating Law Administrators and U.S. Coast Guard, are participating in Operation Dry Water July 3-5 to reduce alcohol and drug-related boating incidents. Recent data shows alcohol use and lack of life jackets are primary factors in recreational boating deaths.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will conduct Operation Dry Water July 3-5 to increase boating safety during the Independence Day weekend. Sgt. Sydney Grant, AGFC Boating Law Administrator, emphasizes that alcohol's effects are magnified on water and urges boaters to operate responsibly and designate sober operators.
The Utah Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division will increase on-the-water patrols from July 3-5 as part of Operation Dry Water, a national campaign partnering with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and U.S. Coast Guard to prevent boating under the influence during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will increase on-the-water patrols July 3-5 as part of Operation Dry Water, a national campaign preventing boating under the influence in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and U.S. Coast Guard. Officers will conduct compliance checks and sobriety checks in high-traffic areas during the busy Fourth of July weekend.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced the reopening of the Cheboygan Lock after closure due to high-water conditions and infrastructure repairs. The facility, regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, required emergency response from multiple agencies including the DNR, Michigan State Police, Consumers Energy, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission authorized over $5.5 million in boating and fishing access improvements using Marine Fuel Tax funds during outgoing Chairman Anne Marie Doramus's final meeting. Projects include road resurfacing, pier construction, and facility renovations across multiple counties. Rob Finley was elected as the new chairman.
The Maine Warden Service dive team recovered the body of Timothy Payson, 59, from Chickawaukie Lake in Rockland after he went missing during a boat ride. The search involved divers, sonar, and assistance from Rockland, Rockport, Thomaston fire departments and local police agencies.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will improve the boat dock at Lake Minatare State Recreation Area by removing an exposed concrete anchor and replacing it with a submerged one farther from the ramp. The project is tentatively scheduled for June 17-18, during which the ramp will remain accessible but no dock will be available.
Skeeter Boats unveiled its new FXE bass boat model line at the 32nd annual Skeeter Owners Bass Tournament on Lake Fork, Texas, where 1,650 anglers competed for over $275,000 in prizes. The FXE features Yamaha V MAX SHO 250-horsepower outboards and advanced engineering for enhanced performance and precision on the water.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announces a navigation channel shift to the east side of the BNSF railroad bridge project on the Missouri River near Bismarck-Mandan, occurring before June 13. The idle speed zone is marked with buoys, and unauthorized entry into the safety zone is subject to fines.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will remove sand at Diver's Bay and Martin Bay Low-Water boat ramps at Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area from June 30 to July 2 to maintain boating access during low water conditions.
Yamaha Marine features Alaska Surf Guides and Captain Scott Reierson in a new storytelling platform piece showcasing remote surfing expeditions along Alaska's coastline powered by Yamaha outboards. The cinematic feature highlights Reierson's unique adventure experiences blending surfing, boating, and exploration in Alaska's wilderness.