BERN TOWNSHIP, Pa. – With a very busy 4th of July weekend expected to draw visitors from all over, officials at Blue Marsh are urging everyone to use safety on the water.
“Our message is simple; Drive sober, drive drug free, arrive alive,” says Bern Twp. Police Chief Brett Forry.
That message also applies on the water. Officials at Blue Marsh Lake are reminding people there’s no alcohol permitted at Blue Marsh and driving a boat or watercraft under the influence can get you a BUI.
“We are trained to detect the signs of impairment boating and conduct sobriety tests on the water,” says Sgt. Travis Miller, with the PA Fish & Boat Commission.
In 2025, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission made 27 arrests for people boating under the influence, that can also include the use of drugs or even medications.
“Many people don’t realize that medications can impair judgment, reaction time and driving ability,” says Forry.
WFMZ-TV | Chad Blimline
Jonah Eckert, Chief Park Ranger at Blue Marsh, expects big crowds this weekend.
“We’re going to have plenty of swimming activity this week and this weekend because of the hot weather,” says Eckert. “[We] want to remind people swimming in a lake or river is different than swimming in a pool.”
For those planning to navigate on the water, officials say you should take a boater safety course before getting out on the lake.
All around the lake there are different buoys marking what you need to know about certain areas; some say ‘Slow, No Wake’, others around the swimming area just direct you to ‘Keep Out’.
Life jackets also play a huge role in saving lives.
“87% of the people who drowned in recreational boating incidents were not wearing life jackets,” says Miller. “We want to promote safe boating by asking you to always wear your life jacket.”