US Army Corps of Engineers Life Jacket Policy Test Lynda Nutt Manager, USACE National Operations Center for Water Safety National Boating Safety Advisory Council January 2011

USACE Test - Three Regions The Corps is now testing policy in three regions. Pittsburgh District, of course, introduced the policy in 1990, but had little or no documentation to support its effect; they were brought into the HQs test for that reason. Vicksburg District became the first district studied under the entire process (from informing local Governments to implementing/enforcing the policy), and truly became our best study model. In 2008, we added Sacramento District, at the request of leadership, to expand on the experience and capture results in an entirely different region of the US. Their policy will begin April 1, 2011 at Pine Flat Lake, recreational waters in the Sierra foothills outside of Fresno.

Youghiogheny River Lake Ross R. Barnett Reservoir Study Lakes Region Test Lakes Control Lakes Pittsburgh Test Youghiogheny River Lake Shenango River Lake Berlin Lake Tygert Lake Vicksburg Test Grenada Lake Enid Lake Arkabutla Lake Sardis Lake Ross R. Barnett Reservoir Bay Springs Lake Sacramento Test Pine Flat Lake Millerton Lake

Policies by USACE Test Region Site Non-motorized Boats Less than 16 feet Boats 16-26 feet Boats greater than 26 feet Swimming Pittsburgh District Less than 16 feet At all times No policy Non-swimmers Vicksburg District At all times regardless of size When under main propulsion When outside designated area Sacramento District (Pine Flat Lake) (with exception) When 100’ from shore (Ca law)

Policies set locally based on risk groups Common trends found in all regions: Boaters in smallcraft Boaters underway Swimmers outside designated areas Each region’s experience is that the majority of their on-the-water fatalities involve boaters in smallcraft, boaters under power and swimmers in non-designated areas. HQs didn’t require it, but Vicksburg and Sacramento Districts both opted to include a swimming in non-designated waters regulation, because more than a third of their public fatalities in both regions fell into this category. Swimming is actually a factor in over 60% of their fatalities.

Pittsburgh District 2008 Baseline versus 2009 Cumulative Wear Rates

2008 Baseline versus 2009-10 Cumulative Wear Rates Vicksburg District 2008 Baseline versus 2009-10 Cumulative Wear Rates Baseline observations showed wear rates that were typical of national voluntary wear rate findings, in the 6-8% range; hopes were the through enforcement in the first test year, we could move the wear rates by 10%. By the end of the 2009 rec season, both Corps and USCG were pleased to see that wear rates on the lakes wear policy had been introduced had jumped to greater than 70%. Control lakes were used in the test to allow for side-by-side comparison for the effect of policy versus no policy and you can see here on this chart that little change occurred in those wear rates. Data you’re viewing here reflect recreation season totals; when fall/winter observations are factored into the year’s totals, the rates jump even more.

Sacramento District 2008 Baseline Cumulative Wear

The Wear Rates JSI Study – Voluntary wear JSI Study – Wear rates under policy Validation study important for confidence in findings Early findings show great success when policy exists AND is worked Through educational contacts Through posted restriction Through obvious LE presence and actions This might be best discussed by John Malatak – what the JSI study and validation study actually are/aren’t.

Changes within the Corps…

We know: Advance coordination and continued effort is critical Education is an important part of the success Life Jackets save lives… Lives have been saved because of this test

Next steps Conduct the 3rd and final year of the test Ends October 31st in all regions Begin compiling final report Host a stakeholders’ meeting for pre-Command briefing discussion Conduct Commander/leadership briefing, with final recommendations

USACE Test Will Document Wear rates pre-and-post policy test Recreation effects Budget and staffing implications Public, Stakeholders and Congressional reactions/actions Agency costs of not having policy Important throughout the process is the information that the Corps hopes to gain from our observations and covert measurements.