Patrolling the Pond Mike
Mike Miller, VP, Lake Lotawana Association
Cruising into Summer June 3, 2026
Memorial Day has come and gone. Rooted in remembrance, it is now but a memory for 2026. And what a weekend it was! After a few early showers on Friday, the weekend weather was spectacular! Based on weather alone, it was one of the finest Memorial Day weekends I have experienced in more than 20 years. No humidity, clear skies, cool lake, and just enough of a breeze for flags to proudly fly over the water. Hopefully, it is a harbinger of things to come this summer.
While I had a chance to make some observations on my own over the Holiday, I reached out to Water Patrol to get their feedback. For the most part, it was what you would expect for a Holiday weekend as far as violations and warnings. Here are a few highlights:
- PWCs were the main issue with off-hour riding and too many riders. I saw at least one, possibly two, PWCs with FOUR riders on board. Section III, Part M, 1, b, of the Lake Lotawana Home Owners Association Rules and Regulations says “no PWC should be operated on the lake that exceeds 3 riders or more than 140hp.” Why is this rule in place?
- Most PWCs are made for two or three riders. First, carrying more than 3 riders is beyond most manufacturers’ recommendations for safety reasons. Second, if 4 riders fall, it’s almost like capsizing a small boat! A lot of people would be in the water. Not so safe on a busy weekend. What else kept the Water Patrol busy?
Long holiday weekends are always a time to take a few days off and spend time with your family and friends. No problem. However, it becomes a problem when guests go a little too far. There were a few large groups on pontoons with too many people on board and well-beyond the boat’s safe capacity (in both people and perhaps adult beverages). They were cruising through coves at speeds above NO WAKE speed. We all like to have fun, but remember the Titanic? Yes. Not enough life jackets on board. It’s been a maritime rule since then that everyone must have a life jacket available. Also, manufacturers’ limits for the number of people on board a pontoon should be followed. If not, accidents can happen. If you are the owner of one of these vessels and citations are issued (for too many onboard, for example), the citation goes with your property and not the driver or people on the boat. Ensuring the proper number of people and life jackets are on board is the owner’s responsibility. It is also a safety issue. This is a good opportunity to review some of the rules with your family before we get to the busiest part of the season.
While some issues tend to pop up every Holiday weekend, for the most part, everyone was enjoying the lake. It was a busy weekend, and the weather decided to go for it! Yes, another Memorial Day has come and gone; it’s but a recent memory. That only means the rest of the summer is yet to come! See you on the pond!
SAFER SEVEN
Congratulations to our most recent winners of the $50 Lotawana dining certificate: Carrie Turley and Gary Schroeder are our winners! Safer Seven is enjoying giving away these prize winnings! If it helps promote safety and reinforcing the learning around the rules, it’s worth it.
This week’s Quiz is, once again, a SINGLE Question quiz. Let’s see how you do!
According to PAGE 16, Part K from the Lake Lotawana Rules and Regulations, what are the THREE DIFFERENT Speed limits described and the limit assigned ?
Send your answers to mike@lakelotawna.net by June 10th and you will be eligible to win one of TWO $25 Gift Certificates to one of our Lotawana local eating establishments. Go for it!