AHSAHKA, Idaho – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park rangers need help finding life jackets that are missing from loaner boards located near boat ramps on Dworshak Reservoir.
In an attempt to prevent drowning fatalities on Dworshak Reservoir, five different life jacket loaner boards stations were installed on Corps property – two at Bruces Eddy, two at Big Eddy and one at Dent Acres. Jacket sizes varying from infant to extra large adult were stocked for public use and many were originally donated by local businesses and organizations. Visitors were encouraged to borrow the life jackets while boating and swimming on the reservoir.
However, many who borrowed the jackets did not return them to the public-use loaner boards – 14 of 60 loaner jackets are missing.
Dworshak rangers ask that the public assist in getting life jackets back to where they belong. Dworshak loaner jackets are identified with large block lettering. If people forgot to return a borrowed life jacket, they can drop it off at any boat ramp loaner board, or give it to a Dworshak ranger, Idaho State Parks ranger, or Clearwater County Sheriff’s deputy. They can also deliver life jackets to the Dworshak Dam Visitor Center.
Keeping the boating and swimming public safe, is a top priority on Dworshak Reservoir, and the loaner life jackets are used on a regular basis. If you have information about missing loaner life jackets, please call Dworshak Dam Visitor Center at 208-476-1255. Visitors are also invited to stop in at the visitor center, open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
More Corps of Engineers information about recreation opportunities is available on the Walla Walla District website at www.nww.usace.army.mil.
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Release no. 11-136