Water Safety Encouraged

Sponsored by: County Administrative Office

"We recognize this was a unique circumstance and that Mr. Medill's actions were motivated by the tragic incident at Hagg Lake and his intent was to perform a public service," the letter states. "We also recognize that our Park Manager and our Deputy were doing their duty in protecting park property and enforcing the law when this citation was issued."

After assessing the case, the District Attorney's Office responded with a decision not to pursue criminal charges against Mr. Medill.

Washington County continues to work in cooperation with first-responding agencies and with the public in general to promote water safety at Hagg Lake. The effort includes:

• The installation of signage, including permanent signs being installed today at Sain Creek warning about drop offs and the need to wear life vests;
• Implementation of a "watch card" program to encourage adult supervision whenever people enter the water; and
• Expanded use of life vest borrowing stations – stocked through donations from the public – that are already on park grounds.

Permanent signage installed at Sain Creek

Original Release:
Washington County officials are posting temporary warning signs in the Sain Creek area of Henry Hagg Lake today with permanent signs to be posted later this week as part of a comprehensive effort aimed at emphasizing safety.

The permanent signs, in English and Spanish, will caution visitors to Scoggins Valley Park to "wear a life vest" and warn about "steep drop offs" that may not be immediately visible under the water's surface.

The posting of these signs comes after a tragic incident last month where four family members drowned near Sain Creek within a short walk of a life vest borrowing station. Water levels at the Hagg Lake reservoir tend to be low during the late summer months and underwater drop offs at changing locations often occur at the reservoir's bottom due to creek scouring.

"We are taking a comprehensive look at everything associated with water safety at Scoggins Valley Park since last month's tragedy," said Todd Winter, the park's superintendent. "In discussions with our partners at first-responding agencies, we know that additional signage may be helpful, but that we should not think of signs as the sole solution. Ultimately, the use of life vests and basic water-safety practices are critical."

In the weeks ahead, park officials plan to place permanent signage at the park's entrance near Scoggins Dam and at the most popular of over 30 water access points along Hagg Lake's 14 miles of shoreline. An estimated 750,000 visitors recreated at the county park last year.

Other safety improvements under discussion with partner agencies include:

• Additional life-vest borrowing kiosks at key locations, including Sain Creek.
• Implementation of a "watch card" program to encourage one responsible adult to monitor water safety among their party of visitors.
• Park-user guidance with maps showing recommended swimming and boating areas to be distributed at the park's fee station and at a road-side display along the park's main entrance.

In addition, park officials are continuing to collect any new or serviceable life vest at the park's fee booth so that they can be loaned to lake visitors. Life vest donations have also been long accepted at any fire station within Washington County. Fire and rescue agencies ask that the public donate any new or serviceable life vest or jacket meeting the U.S. Coast Guard's Type III designation or better.

Washington County encourages visitors to any natural or human-made body of water to follow the basic rules of swimming safety:

• Always swim with a buddy;do not allow anyone to swim alone.
• Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child's life to another child;teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
• Maintain constant supervision.
• Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate water orientation and learn-to-swim course.
• Avoid distractions when supervising children around water.
• If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
• Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
• Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

Created by Scoggins Dam in 1975, Henry Hagg Lake was designed as a reservoir for drinking, agricultural and commercial uses. Through a cooperative agreement with the lake's owner, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Washington County operates Scoggins Valley Park as a site for boating, fishing and other recreational uses. The reservoir is comprised of 53,000 acre-feet of water during its peak levels, or enough to fill 26,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.