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WSC Accomplishments

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Formed in 2002, the Iowa Great Lakes Water Safety Council was very active during its first 10 years of existence.  By 2012, the WSC had accomplished many of its original goals and has become the leading organization for educating and promoting all things related to water safety around the Iowa Great Lakes. To read through our history and many of our accomplishments, use the arrows on the left or right side to scroll through those formative years. 

2003

  • Improved the radio communications equipment for the Lake Patrol. This equipment included six multi-channel portable radios, a repeater station to increase portable communications range, and a multi-channel base station at the Gull Point Lake Patrol Station. The multi-channel radios enhance communications with fire-rescue squads, ambulances, local police, sheriff’s officers, and state troupers in the lakes area and the Emergency Communications 911 Center in Spirit Lake.

  • Provided two portable radios with noise canceling headsets for the Ice Rescue Air Boat operated by the Arnolds Park – Okoboji Rescue Squad.

  • Purchased a desktop computer and wireless Internet access at the Gull Point Lake Patrol Station.

  • Purchased a professional noise meter, in partnership with three of the area’s lake protective associations, to measure motorboat noise levels for the enforcement of the Model Noise Act.

  • Purchased boating education manuals with boating information and the test necessary to achieve personal watercraft certification for person’s age 12 to 17 years of age.

  • Purchased PFD’s and float coats for the Lake Patrol and the Spirit Lake PWC Rescue Swimmer Team.

  • Purchased a boat hoist for the Lake Patrol.

  • Contributed $1,000 towards the purchase of the new Lakes Area Fire & Rescue Boat

Continuing Activities of the Water Safety Council

  • The WSC maintains and updates:

    • its' website www.watersafetycouncil.org

    • The Gull Point WeatherBug weather station accessed at WEATHER LIVE

    • The Gull Point video camera accessed at LIVE CAMERA

  •   (In April 2016 the video camera was upgraded to High Definition video quality.)

 

  • The WSC distributes the Water Safety brochure and the three Boaters Maps to the major IGL boat ramps, marinas, bait shops, resorts, and two local Chamber of Commerce.

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  • The WSC supports the Aquatic Invasive Species boater education program at major boat ramps in the Iowa Great Lakes area.

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  • The WSC monitors the Iowa Legislature for any changes in Iowa laws that impact water safety or water quality.

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  • The WSC supports maintaining the funding of the Lake Patrol by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

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  • The WSC supports the efforts of the lake protective associations to improve and protect the water safety and water quality of the IGL chain of lakes.

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