October 22, 2025: The 2025 Operation Dry Water (ODW) award recipients were recognized Thursday, Sept. 18, during the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. Awards were presented for Officer of the Year, Regional Law Enforcement, and Media Outreach in recognition of outstanding efforts to prevent boating under the influence (BUI) and support the Operation Dry Water campaign.
These awards highlight law enforcement agencies and officers who have made a significant impact in BUI enforcement and outreach, particularly during the heightened enforcement period surrounding the July Fourth holiday.
Game Warden Cpl. Ryan Locke of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division was named the 2025 Operation Dry Water Officer of the Year for his leadership and enforcement achievements on Lake Lanier. Locke coordinated patrols across five enforcement zones during ODW 2025, deploying eight boats and 14 officers. His work contributed to hundreds of vessel contacts, more than 100 citations and warnings, and multiple BUI arrests — more than 60% of the regional total and more than 35% statewide. Beyond the campaign, he dedicates hundreds of hours annually to patrol, major drug investigations, and boating safety education, while also volunteering as an instructor and assisting with recovery operations.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency District 21 received the Southern Region Law Enforcement Award for its exceptional commitment to boating safety and BUI enforcement across Middle Tennessee. During the 2025 ODW weekend, the district deployed officers across 11 counties and five lakes, logging more than 630 patrol hours. Their efforts resulted in 2,348 vessel checks, 265 citations and warnings, eight BUI arrests, and responses to two boating incidents. District 21 also leads statewide training initiatives and maintains a year-round presence on Tennessee’s busiest waterways.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Marine Enforcement Unit was honored with the Western Region Law Enforcement Award for its work on the Colorado River and Lake Havasu — two of the busiest recreational waterways on the West Coast. Over the three-day ODW weekend, the unit conducted 120 enforcement stops, contacted more than 1,000 boaters, and made eight BUI arrests. Officers, all trained in standardized field sobriety testing, used each interaction to educate boaters on safety and the dangers of impaired operation. The unit also hosts three annual BUI training classes and regularly participates in public outreach efforts.
The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office received the Operation Dry Water Media Award for its outstanding outreach campaign promoting boating safety and BUI prevention. Beginning in April, the agency launched a social media initiative that continued through the July Fourth weekend, publishing 15 safety-focused posts that reached tens of thousands. They also produced a widely shared video with their Marine Patrol Unit, partnered with seven radio stations for public service announcements and interviews, and distributed more than 200 flyers through local businesses. Thanks in part to these efforts, Spotsylvania County reported no boating incidents, fatalities, or drownings during the holiday weekend.
NASBLA extends its sincere appreciation to all the award winners for their dedication to protecting lives on the water. Their commitment to BUI detection, education, and enforcement plays a critical role in the ongoing success of the Operation Dry Water campaign and the safety of recreational boaters nationwide.
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Operation Dry Water (ODW) is a year-round boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign with the mission of reducing the number of alcohol- and drug-related accidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water.
Operation Dry Water was launched in 2009 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard. Operation Dry Water is produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard and is a product of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.
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