Crowds gather on Grand Lake for holiday weekend festivities

Crowds are already gathering on Grand Lake ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Cal Day shows us the boaters heading out and explains how law enforcement plans to keep everyone safe.

The sun is out, and the boat ramps are busy on Grand Lake.

“It’s a big lake, you’ve got diversification. You can go tie up in a cove, or you can hit the big water with the fast boats,” said Steve Beranek.

He started celebrating the holiday weekend early and has watched the crowds get bigger by the day. He’s visiting from Wichita, Kansas, for the fourth year in a row.

“Got six families down here together with all the kids from 1 to 13,” Beranek said.

The Fourth of July on Grand Lake has a lot to offer, from the open water to the lineup of fireworks shows. Beranek says the water is a little different than in previous years.

“There’s a lot of trash out there, and there is some big logs that probably need some cleaning up. That’s boating—you’ve just got to watch out and be careful,” he said.

To help make sure folks are safely having fun, the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) is patrolling the lake. The water is higher right now because of the recent heavy rainfall.

“There’s debris in the water that normally aren't here that are getting washed out from the high flow,” said Captain Steven Treat, one of the 20 GRDA officers roaming the lake. “There's also other water obstructions that normally aren’t underwater.”

Independence Day is like the Super Bowl for boaters.

“This is definitely the largest summer event for the lake. The crowds will be large, especially with the weather the way it’s been—it’s a nice weekend,” said Treat.

Treat says officers will be doing safety checks and looking for any signs of impaired boat drivers. He says everyone can stay safe as long as rules are followed and caution is used.

“Enjoy the weekend,” he said. “We want people to enjoy the waterways. That’s what they’re here for. Just be safe while you’re doing it.”

GRDA police are reminding everyone to wear a life jacket when going out on the water. Anyone who is experiencing an emergency should call 911, and officers can get to you while on the water.

The Duck Creek area of Grand Lake will have a few extra regulations in place for the fireworks show on the Fourth of July because the crowds will be so large. These include where you can and can’t idle your boat based on its size.

Image Provided By: GRDA