Lyon County Sheriff's Office Boat & Water Patrol

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Grant Program Information

Grant Name: State Boat & Water Safety Grant to Counties
Project Manager: County Sheriff
Type: Legislatively-directed appropriation
Purpose: Preventing or reducing boating accidents & drownings and making Minnesota's waters safe & enjoyable. This includes boating law enforcement, aids to navigation, response to & investigations of boating accidents / drownings, search, rescue, & recovery operations, permitting of events & temp. structures and rental boat inspections.

2023 & 2024 Awarded Grants To Lyon County

2023 Grant

Allocated: $1,212.00
Total Expended and Invoiced to date: $1,212.00

2024 Grant

Allocated: $1,709.00
Total Expended and Invoiced to date:

Early Season Boating Safety Reminders

Cold water kills. Wear your life jacket!

Inflatable life jackets are a convenient and comfortable option for adults.

2022: There were 9 boating fatalities. 8 of the fatalities were not wearing life jackets and one is unknown at this time.

2023: There were 9boating fatalities. 5 of the fatalities were not wearing life jackets.

Taking time to prepare now will help ensure a safer and more enjoyable boating season.

From ice-out until early summer, lakes and streams are extremely cold. To survive an unexpected fall into cold water, it is imperative that you are already wearing a life jacket.
New styles of life jackets, such as inflatables, are designed for convenient and comfortable preventive wear. Inflatable life jackets are a Coast Guard-approved option for adult boaters.
Children younger than 10 years old must wear a life jacket anytime they are aboard a watercraft that is underway (i.e., not tied to a dock or anchored for swimming).
There must be at least one readily accessible and wearable life jacket on board per person. Watercraft 16 feet or longer must also have at least one throwable floatation device (except for canoes and kayaks).
However, boat and water safety officials strongly recommend that all boaters wear life jackets, no matter their age, especially when on cold water.
The shock of cold water causes an involuntary gasp reflex, leading to inhalation of water. It takes less than a half-cup of water in the lungs to drown. The shock of sudden entry into the water can also cause cardiac arrest, even for people in good health.
More than 30 percent of boating fatalities in Minnesota occur in cold water. Life jackets not only keep you afloat, but Type III/foam-filled styles also add some insulation against the effects of cold water.
Anglers should be mindful of their boat’s weight capacity and occupancy limit. Overloading of small fishing boats with people and gear is a common cause of capsizing and swamping.
Taking a few minutes now to ensure your boat has the needed safety equipment and that items are in working order will lead to a safer and more enjoyable boating season.
In addition to life jackets, safety equipment for motorboats includes: a horn or whistle, fire extinguisher and navigation lights. These may be required depending on size and type of boat, but their use on all motorboats is recommended by the DNR.
All watercraft must have a valid boat registration, except for non-motorized watercraft 10 feet or less.
Youth operators 12-17 are required to have a watercraft operator’s permit to operate motorboats over 25 hp (age 13 minimum for personal watercraft under the visual supervision of someone age 21 or older).
Further details on boating safety, required equipment, boat registration and watercraft operator’s permits can be found online.