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Thread: Havasu/Parker accident statistics

  1. #1
    unleashed
    Ok. I've seen alot of doom and gloom on these boards recently about the river and how bad it is now. Is there anyone(Perhaps Boatcop)that has statistics from the past 30 years on deaths and accidents on these waterways. Has it really gotten worse or does it seem worse due to the internet and information highway??
    Deano
    UnleashedHardcoreApparel (http://www.unleashedclothing.com)
    Unleashedmyspace (http://www.myspace.com/unleashedhardcore)

  2. #2
    unleashed
    ahhh..ANYONE?? hahahaaha...Im to stupid to find them.
    Deano
    UnleashedHardcoreApparel (http://www.unleashedclothing.com)
    Unleashedmyspace (http://www.myspace.com/unleashedhardcore)

  3. #3
    Boatcop
    I can't speak specifically for Lake Havasu, but in La Paz County (South basin Lake Havasu, Parker Strip, and South to the Yuma County line) we are down, when compared to the past.
    From 1988, when I started with La Paz, until 2004 we averaged between 18-22 reportable accidents in the County. And the most fatal accidents we had in a year was 2, with most of those years having none.
    Last year (2006) we had 10 accidents. 1 fatal, (in the Cibola area, 30 miles South of Blythe) 16 in 2005 (0 fatals) 17 in 2004 (2 fatals).
    Lake Havasu had 59 accidents and 1 fatal in 2006.
    Areas classified as "The Colorado River" had 82 accidents and 3 fatals. Now that is everywhere on the River that isn't regarded a "Lake", and could be anywhere including the Topock Gorge, Bullhead City, Grand Canyon, and anything south of Parker Dam.
    Going back to the 1970s and early '80s, 50-60 accidents and up to 15 deaths a year were common on the Parker Strip.
    Those figures (Except for La Paz County) are just the accidents reported to Arizona Authorities. accidents reported and Investigated by California (or Nevada) Agencies would probably increase the numbers significantly.
    The accidents in La Paz County are from all records, both CA and AZ.

  4. #4
    unleashed
    I can't speak specifically for Lake Havasu, but in La Paz County (South basin Lake Havasu, Parker Strip, and South to the Yuma County line) we are down, when compared to the past.
    From 1988, when I started with La Paz, until 2004 we averaged between 18-22 reportable accidents in the County. And the most fatal accidents we had in a year was 2, with most of those years having none.
    Last year (2006) we had 10 accidents. 1 fatal, (in the Cibola area, 30 miles South of Blythe) 16 in 2005 (0 fatals) 17 in 2004 (2 fatals).
    Lake Havasu had 59 accidents and 1 fatal in 2006.
    Areas classified as "The Colorado River" had 82 accidents and 3 fatals. Now that is everywhere on the River that isn't regarded a "Lake", and could be anywhere including the Topock Gorge, Bullhead City, Grand Canyon, and anything south of Parker Dam.
    Going back to the 1970s and early '80s, 50-60 accidents and up to 15 deaths a year were common on the Parker Strip.
    Those figures (Except for La Paz County) are just the accidents reported to Arizona Authorities. accidents reported and Investigated by California (or Nevada) Agencies would probably increase the numbers significantly.
    The accidents in La Paz County are from all records, both CA and AZ.
    Thanks for the info...its greatly appreciated.
    Deano
    UnleashedHardcoreApparel (http://www.unleashedclothing.com)
    Unleashedmyspace (http://www.myspace.com/unleashedhardcore)

  5. #5
    My Man's Sportin' Wood
    That's interesting, Alan. I would assume that use is up also. If that is true, then the ratio is even lower in comparison. Or do you think use is the same? From my experience, Mohave use is way higher than it was 20-30 years ago. We didn't go to Parker or Havasu when I was a kid, so I can't compare them.

  6. #6
    Boatcop
    That's interesting, Alan. I would assume that use is up also. If that is true, then the ratio is even lower in comparison. Or do you think use is the same? From my experience, Mohave use is way higher than it was 20-30 years ago. We didn't go to Parker or Havasu when I was a kid, so I can't compare them.
    Arizona does a Statewide Watercraft Report every 3 years. 2006 was the last one done. It records use by what we call "Boat Use days". A Boat Use Day is 1 boat on a certain waterway on 1 day.
    That same boat on the waterway for 2 days = 2 boat use days.
    2 boats on that waterway for 1 day = 2 boat use days.
    Same 2 boats on the waterway for 2 days - 4 boat use days.
    Got it?
    I'll have to dig back in my files for historical data, but for 2006 the following waterways in Arizona had the following boat use days: (only took the top 6)
    Lake Havasu- 1,926,792
    Lake Mohave- 887,775
    Parker Strip- 630,427
    Lake Mead- 608,526
    Lake Powell- 557,310
    Pleasant- 534,347
    I do know that the Parker numbers are at least 2-3 times what they were in 1994.
    There aren't records back to the 1970s, since the survey was begun in the early 1990s. But back then, the Strip was THE place to be. When I was out here with the Coast Guard 1978-1981, Havasu was the laid-back family boating spot and the Strip was the wild world.
    When the flood of 1983 closed the Strip for the entire summer, the rowdies found Lake Havasu, Copper Canyon, Sandbar, etc. and the demographics changed. Parker got more laid back and Havasu became the hot spot.
    Parker pretty much stayed that way until the Casino opened, and now the party crowd is split between the 2.
    It was also between 1995 and now that we've really stepped up our enforcement presence. We went from 2 boats to 4. Expanded our patrol times on the water, and have a higher profile.
    While some people may gripe about our emphasis on OUI enforcement and arrests and Reckless Operation stance, we feel that it's made a difference. We don't care if people drive sober because it's the right thing to do or they're afraid of getting arrested and being subject to heavy fines.
    When you look at the boat use for lakes like Mead, Mohave, Powell and Pleasant compared to us, it doesn't mean that much. Until you consider the size of those lakes and then look at the 12 mile long, 100 yard wide drainage ditch that the Strip is.

  7. #7
    westair
    Ok. I've seen alot of doom and gloom on these boards recently about the river and how bad it is now. Is there anyone(Perhaps Boatcop)that has statistics from the past 30 years on deaths and accidents on these waterways. Has it really gotten worse or does it seem worse due to the internet and information highway??
    Deano
    UnleashedHardcoreApparel (http://www.unleashedclothing.com)
    Unleashedmyspace (http://www.myspace.com/unleashedhardcore)
    Its gotta be way more dangerous driving to these places than actually being on the water.

  8. #8
    Havasu_Dreamin
    Arizona does a Statewide Watercraft Report every 3 years. 2006 was the last one done. It records use by what we call "Boat Use days". A Boat Use Day is 1 boat on a certain waterway on 1 day.
    That same boat on the waterway for 2 days = 2 boat use days.
    2 boats on that waterway for 1 day = 2 boat use days.
    Same 2 boats on the waterway for 2 days - 4 boat use days.
    Got it?
    I'll have to dig back in my files for historical data, but for 2006 the following waterways in Arizona had the following boat use days: (only took the top 6)
    Lake Havasu- 1,926,792
    Lake Mohave- 887,775
    Parker Strip- 630,427
    Lake Mead- 608,526
    Lake Powell- 557,310
    Pleasant- 534,347
    I do know that the Parker numbers are at least 2-3 times what they were in 1994.
    There aren't records back to the 1970s, since the survey was begun in the early 1990s. But back then, the Strip was THE place to be. When I was out here with the Coast Guard 1978-1981, Havasu was the laid-back family boating spot and the Strip was the wild world.
    When the flood of 1983 closed the Strip for the entire summer, the rowdies found Lake Havasu, Copper Canyon, Sandbar, etc. and the demographics changed. Parker got more laid back and Havasu became the hot spot.
    Parker pretty much stayed that way until the Casino opened, and now the party crowd is split between the 2.
    It was also between 1995 and now that we've really stepped up our enforcement presence. We went from 2 boats to 4. Expanded our patrol times on the water, and have a higher profile.
    While some people may gripe about our emphasis on OUI enforcement and arrests and Reckless Operation stance, we feel that it's made a difference. We don't care if people drive sober because it's the right thing to do or they're afraid of getting arrested and being subject to heavy fines.
    When you look at the boat use for lakes like Mead, Mohave, Powell and Pleasant compared to us, it doesn't mean that much. Until you consider the size of those lakes and then look at the 12 mile long, 100 yard wide drainage ditch that the Strip is.
    1 million more boat days on Havasu compared to the next closest, amazing.....
    Any pictures from '83, the flood and its aftermath?

  9. #9
    Boatcop
    1 million more boat days on Havasu compared to the next closest, amazing.....
    Any pictures from '83, the flood and its aftermath?
    I stole these from RiverRatMike's Page.
    http://www.boatcop.com/pdam1.jpg
    http://www.boatcop.com/pdam4.jpg
    I have some pictures in a box somewhere that show the cabanas at Moonridge with the water about a foot under the canopy tops. Same with River Lodge and Riverland.
    The Keys were sandbagged but most of the homes on the Riverfront were still flooded under about 4-6 feet of water.
    That was a tough time for us, since we had just formed as a County on January 1st, 1983 We lost a whole year of tourist and recreation revenue. It took probably 5-6 years after that for the area to recover financially.

  10. #10
    squirt'nmyload
    When you look at the boat use for lakes like Mead, Mohave, Powell and Pleasant compared to us, it doesn't mean that much. Until you consider the size of those lakes and then look at the 12 mile long, 100 yard wide drainage ditch that the Strip is.
    thats what i was thinking.......that is CRAZY :jawdrop:

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