U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Jay Townsend provided the following responses to questions about boating safety on Beaver Lake:
- Are kayakers on the lake required to carry flags (like diver’s flags) on their boats to make them more visible?
- No, although you may consider hoisting a flag or wearing bright colors to ensure power boaters can see you.
- Do kayaks have to stay out of the middle of the lake?
- No, however, on busy days taking a kayak out in the main channel could be dangerous.
- Do non-motorized boats have the right-of-way?
- When a motorized vessel approaches a vessel without motor power, such as a sailboat, they have the right-of-way. The motorized vessel is required to give way to the non-motorized vessel.
- What about driving a boat while intoxicated? Who enforces those rules?
- Boating while intoxicated is enforced by all agencies on the water e.g., Arkansas Game & Fish and local law enforcement. They work together to report intoxicated boaters to the local sheriff’s departments.
- Has there ever been thought to limiting the size of boats on Beaver Lake?
- There is no boat size limit on the lake. A longtime ranger at Beaver told me he’s never seen an 81-foot vessel on Beaver Lake. (Note: Visitors to Hogscald reported an 81-foot boat there recently. The owners of the boat confirmed the size).