SOUTHWICK – Now that summer is officially here, Southwick residents and people from around the area are heading to Congamond Lake for their enjoyment. While the focus for many people on Congamond Lake is to enjoy themselves, town officials want to remind everyone that safety on the lake is paramount.
A big concern from town officials is making sure people stay safe on the vessels they are operating or boarding on.
“You have to know your vessel, no matter what experience you have,” said Southwick Chief of Police David Ricardi. “You still have to know the capabilities of the vehicle and treat it with respect.”
Ricardi pointed out that people on any type of boat or personal watercraft have to know the navigation signs that are out there and what they mean. One important navigation sign is the no-wake zone, in which boats or any other types of vessels can’t reach higher than a headway speed of six miles per hour when in a no-wake zone.
Congamond Lake. (WNG File Photo)
Dick Grannells, who is the Chairman of the Lake Management Committee, wants to remind the public about the dangers of operating a boat at night. Since the maximum speed is 10 miles per hour on Congamond Lake between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour after sunrise, Grannells has had reports of people speeding at night without their lights on.
“There’s many (boats) who don’t have any lights on whatsoever and are speeding,” said Grannells. “Talk about an accident waiting to happen.”
Both Grannells and Ricardi expressed the importance of having the proper safety equipment on a boat or personal watercraft. All vessels need to have lifejackets and fire extinguishers on board, with the lifejackets specifically geared towards the type of people that are on board.
According to Grannells, every boat has a placard on it that alerts the operator of what the capacity is in people and weight on the boat. The Southwick town officials hope that people can abide by that rule this summer.
“We all see boats that are grossly overloaded,” said Grannells. “You’ll see the pontoon boats look like submarines.”
Grannells also added that there’s no reason for anyone to throw trash in the lake and pollute the water. Both town officials noted that alcohol and boating don’t mix. Under the Massachusetts Boating Law, no person shall operate a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The current standard of intoxication in Massachusetts is a blood alcohol concentration of .08.
The police chief wants people to have fun on the lake, but always done responsibly.
“Enjoy the summer, a lot of good times can be had out there, if done properly,” said Ricardi.
For any questions, concerns, or comments, contact the Southwick Police Department at 413-569-5348. The Lake Management Committee can be reached at 413-569-0515.
