GRDA Police: Safety reminders for boating on elevated lake levels

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GRDA Police: Safety reminders for boating on elevated lake levels

Jun 12, 2026

With recent heavy rains across Oklahoma and in the Grand River watersheds, the Grand River Dam Authority Police Department is sharing some important safety tips for those who will be visiting Grand Lake and Lake Hudson in the coming days. Although lakes are expected to return to more normal elevations soon, these are important tips to always keep in mind to help promote safe outings on these popular Oklahoma waters.

• Be aware of floating debris. Higher lake levels can mean more driftwood and debris floating in the water. Please be on the lookout as you are boating.
• Be mindful of your wake. When lake levels are elevated, boat wakes can roll up onto neighboring properties and possibly cause damage to areas that are normally above the water line. All boat operators are responsible for their wakes. Be mindful of yours and watch out for your neighbor.
• Be mindful of the changing shoreline topography that occurs when lake levels are elevated. Things like stumps, picnic tables, retaining walls and other structures typically located along the shoreline may be submerged due to the lake levels. Use extreme caution and avoid unfamiliar areas of the shoreline.
• Stay away from open floodgates and spillway areas. If floodgates are open at either Pensacola Dam (Grand Lake) or Robert S. Kerr Dam (Lake Hudson) while boating, please observe the buoys designating the spillway areas and allow plenty of distance between those locations and your boat.
• Do not go into spillway areas below the dam. Please use common sense and stay away from areas below floodgates where water is being released. It is against the law to enter floodwater discharge. Besides, the swift water can be very dangerous.
• Finally, a good reminder for boating in all conditions: always, always wear your life jacket.

Whenever the United States Army Corps of Engineers directs floodgate operations at GRDA's Pensacola or Robert S. Kerr Dams, GRDA will post a bulletin on its Facebook page. You can also find the latest lake level information on the "Lake Levels" link on grda.com.

If you need immediate assistance on the water, the GRDA Police recommends you call 911.