Boaters Flock To Skiatook Lake Despite Above-Normal Levels

You can feel the waves and you can see the people out enjoying them.

Around every bend at Skiatook Lake, the happy faces stand out.

And with lake levels eight feet higher than normal, the boats continue to zoom by and boaters keep inching their way below the bridge.

"Everyone is waving and having a good time," said boater Chris Bourget. 

It's all about relaxation and fun, but Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Ryan Griffith makes sure they are safe. 

Higher water adds to his safety list.

"All the debris and on the shoreline they float and come out into the lake," said Griffith.

When it comes to safety on the water there are a couple of things you want to keep in mind is your speed and how close you are to the next boat. For instance, a boat that's about 25 feet long should keep about that same distance between it and another boat. 

On the lake, common sense safety sometimes is ignored, troopers said.

Some of the biggest concerns for Trooper Griffith are life vests. 

All children under 13 must always have them on. 

Griffith wouldn't see a problem if the law one day required it for adults too.

"In this district in the district the state of Oklahoma is in 78 percent of the boating fatalities are a result of drowning," he said. 

The people on one boat know the safety rules and are happy to have the troopers around.

"We do like the police presence out here it makes you feel safer," said boater Kirk Buckels.

Troopers said every boat owner planning to get on the water, check your registration. All boat registration expires at the end of June.