Knoxville, TN (WOKI) – The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is preparing for one of the busiest boating weekends of the year with increased enforcement as part of Operation Dry Water.
The annual initiative, which focuses on preventing boating under the influence (BUI), will run from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, coinciding with the Fourth of July holiday weekend. TWRA officers, along with partner agencies, will be increasing patrols across Tennessee waterways to ensure boaters stay safe.
Officials say the holiday typically brings a surge in recreational boating, along with an increased risk of alcohol-related incidents. Operation Dry Water combines enforcement with education, aiming to reduce impaired boating and raise awareness about the dangers associated with alcohol and drug use on the water.
“Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs is selfish and a 100 percent preventable crime,” said TWRA Lieutenant Colonel Matt Majors. “A boat is not a toy, and each year we lose precious lives because of the actions of boat-impaired operators.”
TWRA emphasizes that boating under the influence carries the same legal threshold as driving a vehicle, with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher considered illegal. Violators can face fines, possible jail time, impoundment of their vessel, and loss of boating privileges.
The agency notes that alcohol remains the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths. Environmental conditions such as sun exposure, wind, and motion can intensify the effects of alcohol, making impairment more dangerous on the water than many realize.
During the 2025 Independence Day holiday, TWRA reported one boating fatality in Tennessee and made 24 BUI arrests over the three-day period.
Operation Dry Water, launched nationally in 2009 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, is conducted in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Officials say the campaign has significantly improved safety by removing impaired operators from waterways.
As the holiday approaches, TWRA is urging Tennesseans and visitors to make safe choices, including designating a sober operator and remaining vigilant while enjoying time on the water.
