Emergency Services by Joey Stocking (CGAux)

Bear Lake is famous for Raspberry Shakes and also, well…..the lake. The lake attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. So what is someone to do if they get caught out on the lake in a storm or if their boat starts to sink?

“Who you gonna call?” I don’t think the ghostbusters will help much in that situation. 

 

And with that I’d like to tell you about the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (CGAux) and more specifically the Garden City Flotilla. The CGAux is a civilian uniformed component of the United States Coast Guard. The local organizational unit, called a flotilla, was established September 14, 1982 (before I was born 😁). Its primary tasks include lake Search and Rescue missions, assisting boaters, providing watercraft safety education, and supporting the Bear Lake State Parks and Rich County Sheriff’s Office with lake-related activity.

 

The last 10 years most of the patrol activity has been conducted mainly by 4-5 auxiliarists, all of whom are volunteers. In addition to the hours spent on patrol they must complete organizational training requirements such as boat operations knowledge checks, search patterns & techniques, watercraft terminologies, knots, and risk management. 

Utah has a somewhat unique arrangement with the Utah State Parks Division. In a partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, two surplused state park boats, one at Bear Lake and at Jordanelle, are on loan to the CGAux to use for patrols and assist state parks personnel as needed. This arrangement frees up Park Rangers for other responsibilities while saving Auxiliarists from having to provide a personal vessel (called a facility in the Coast Guard world).

 

The main facility vessel used on Bear Lake is affectionately called “Mama Bear.” It is a 25’ Boston Whaler. Starting last year, a private personal watercraft was also used to help with patrols. The vessel(s) are usually on the water most summer weekends and during Raspberry Days week. They communicate with Rich County Dispatch, but also monitor marine band Channel 16 for emergency calls. 

 

Since 2016 the local flotilla has rescued 28 people from the water, assisted 1,043 persons and assisted vessels valued in excess of $6 million, amassing 3,232 volunteer crew hours. (Note: No auxiliary activity took place in 2020 due to COVID-19, so this was over a 5-year time.)

 

One of the most common public interactions on the lake is speaking to individuals on floatie devices about the safety law requiring the wearing of lifejackets for those 12 and under or at least having a properly sized one with you if over 12. A large majority of those rescued are individuals who are on paddlecraft  or floaties that get blown offshore and are unable to get back to the beach. The wind can shift directions quickly and often people don’t realize they are in danger until it is too late.

 

Having grown up spending summers on Bear Lake before moving here full-time, I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about boats and Bear Lake’s nuances, but there is a lot to learn, and I have appreciated the knowledge provided by the CG Auxiliary.

 

Interested in getting some of that knowledge for yourself or just learning more about the local Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla. Fill out this form to be in touch with someone who can help.