JULY 2, 2026 — U.S. Coast Guard crews are scheduled to work with various law enforcement agencies across the region, July 3 – 5, in preparation for one of the busiest boating weekends of the year.
The projected increase in patrols on the waterways is part of Operation Dry Water, an annual campaign coordinated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, dedicated to enforcing boating under the influence laws and promoting safe, sober boating.
Alcohol continues to be the leading known contributing factor in recreational boating fatalities and a major contributor to boating incidents, according to the 2024 U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics.
Operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol or drugs isn’t just illegal, it affects judgment, reaction time, balance and coordination. Environmental factors such as the sun, wind, waves and heat can amplify these effects.
Boating while impaired poses serious risks to vessel operators as well as passengers due to the increased likelihood of falls overboard, collisions, injuries and fatalities.
These incidents are often preventable when everyone aboard chooses to drink responsibly or remain sober.
Since the campaign began in 2009, Operation Dry Water has removed nearly 8,000 impaired operators from the nation’s waterways and reached more than 3.3 million boaters through education and outreach efforts.
In 2025, 451 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, representing every state and U.S. territory, participated in the campaign, demonstrating a nationwide commitment to safer recreational boating.
For more information about Operation Dry Water, visit www.OperationDryWater.org.
USCG