NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — With Labor Day weekend coming up, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are reminding everyone to stay safe on the waters.

This warning comes as drowning deaths at Percy Priest Lake continue to drop. 

"Always [the] first thoughts that go through your mind during any fatality is, 'Was there something that we could've done?'" Park Ranger Dustin Entrocaso with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressed.

This fiscal year, four people have died in the lake due to drowning compared to five last year and seven the year before.

"There's a lot of logs, trees in the water; those rocky areas, they can get you caught, especially in those holes in between rocks; and again, steep drop-offs," TWRA Game Warden Johnathan Mark described.

Entrocaso credited the decline in deaths to a stronger partnership with the TWRA, more lifejackets on loan, and public service announcements in both English and Spanish.

"We actually have updated all of our signage around all of our major recreation areas, our boat ramps and swim beaches, things like that, to include Spanish signs," Entrocaso said.

However, the TWRA reported that boating fatalities are trending up statewide compared to last year. Officials said busier waterways and alcohol are big factors.

Earlier this month, one man died in a boating accident on Percy Priest Lake. According to the TWRA, the 74-year-old was making adjustments to his sailboat when a series of waves struck the vessel, causing him to lose balance and fall overboard.

"Alcohol is the number one reason why we have incidents on the lake," Mark said.

With Labor Day weekend ahead, authorities expect the lake to be packed.

"It's going to be very, very busy, very congested, a lot of traffic on the water. We just want to make sure everybody has a proper lookout when they're out there, just making sure [they know] where all the other vessels are," Mark explained.

The message is clear: put safety first.

"We're just going to focus all of our outreach and patrolling on ensuring the public is swimming in designated areas, making sure that they have their lifejackets if they're going on the water," Entrocaso said.

"We just want to make sure everybody enjoys themselves out in the water, especially this Labor Day weekend, but that everybody can go back home at the end of the day," Mark concluded.

To learn more about water safety tips and resources, visit the American Red Cross website.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/officials-urge-safety-at-percy-priest-lake-over-labor-day-weekend/