Syracuse.com - Police and DEC are enforcing new water safety measures on Oswego River

[HuntingNY-News]

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Tickets have been handed out to anglers who violated the rules.

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<p>The fall salmon spawning run is expected to be in full swing later this month on the Oswego River.</p>

<p>Anglers on the river, which can be dangerous at times depending on the water flow, should be aware that the Oswego City Police and state Department of Environmental Conservation officers will be enforcing new water safety measures implemented earlier this year.</p>

<p>Late last month, city police ordered two anglers who were not wearing personal flotation devices (P.F.D.s), out of the water. Louis Myers, 24, and Albert Mendez, 23, both of Fulton, were fishing in a restricted area and were ticketed for trespassing, a violation.</p>

<p>“They’re not the first and there’s been several others who have been ticketed during the past couple of weeks,” said Capt. David Lizotti, of the Oswego Police Department.</p>

<p>In July, after reaching a settlement with the families of two fishermen who drowned in the Oswego River in September 2010, Brookfield Power announced the designation of danger zones in some of the popular fishing areas near the utility’s powerhouse. Officials put up 26 signs along the river, marking the areas as dangerous and as mandatory PFD zones.</p>

<p>The new rules are:</p>

<p>šAnglers not wearing a life vest are prohibited in these designated zones</p>

<p>šIt is prohibited to remain in, or to enter into the river in PFD zones — whether wearing a PFD or not — following the activation of the siren, or while the red warning light is illuminated, indicating water flow changes near the Varick Dam and powerhouse.</p>

<p>Failure to follow these rules will result in a ticket for trespassing.</p>

<p>Brookfield and the families of anglers Leonard M. Nichols, 45, of Wellsburg, and Clifford Luther, 52, of Horseheads, reached a $1.8 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the families. The men drowned while fishing in the Oswego River when the waterway was high on Sept. 28, 2010.</p>

<p>Neither of the anglers were wearing life jackets when they drowned </p>

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog