The Lexington County Sheriff's Department, which holds jurisdiction over and patrols much of Lake Murray, offered some tips on how to be prepared and stay safe on the lake.

“It is truly the crown jewel of Lexington County when it comes to recreation,” Cpt. Adam Myrick, public information officer for the department, said. “However, the water and the lake itself is something that you really need to be familiar with before you get out there.”

The captain shared that one of the most important aspects of safe boating is to establish a float plan, which includes telling people where you expect to be and when you expect to be there. 

“That float plan is very important because if there does arise some sort of situation where we have to go out and try to find you or find the boat, then we at least have a timeline of where you were or where you plan to be,” Myrick said.

While having the float plan in place can help people find you in case of an accident, one way you can prevent such a problem is to always be aware of the weather. Myrick advised that everyone’s phone should be equipped with a trusted weather app with the notifications on.

He said that due to the way Lake Murray is, with it running east to west rather than north to south like a majority of lakes, the weather can change very quickly. Myrick added that anyone participating in lake activities needs to be aware of what’s going on.

Lake-goers may not be able to predict weather changes, but there are a few items that they can store on their vessel to ensure a safer trip. These items include, but are not limited to, life jackets that fit each passenger correctly, sunscreen, a first aid kit and liquids to remain hydrated.

Lake Murray is large and falls under the jurisdiction of multiple counties. Myrick said the department is always focused on keeping people safe on the water and shore line.

The state Department of Natural Resources website offers a few additional steps that lake-goers should take, including checking fuel and battery charge, making sure a fire extinguisher is accessible and in good condition, and (if applicable) put the plug in and connect trailer safety chains to tow the vehicle.

In case an individual participating in water activities ends up in an accident, Myrick said they should follow the STAY plan: stay afloat, stay still, stay with your vessel, and stay as dry and warm as you can.

The captain shared that taking a boating safety course is one way that boaters can familiarize themselves with best practices. The course covers topics like safety equipment, how to keep the boat working well on the water, keeping passengers safe, and the state’s boating rules.

Boating safety courses are available through the Columbia Sailing Club, who hold two to three DNR resources classes each year. The classes are free to the public.

“You have to be mindful of everyone around you,” Myrick said, “and everyone on the lake has to enforce that, no matter what kind of boat or watercraft they're on.”