The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office released a reminder for community members regarding traveling on the Tippecanoe River while a flood watch or flood warning are in effect, such as those implemented on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
The Sheriff’s Office stated that the deputies received several calls regarding the safety of utilizing the Tippecanoe River during or following flooding scenarios for recreational activities. The Sheriff’s Office stated that as water levels begin to normalize, community members should still exercise caution when utilizing the Tippecanoe River, including Lake Freeman and Lake Shafer, following flood conditions.
The Sheriff’s Office stated that hazardous wake and wash are still prohibited regardless of the current water levels on the bodies of water as the water is still above the docks and piers of homeowners and continues to extend into their property.
The Sheriff’s Office continued to state that dangerous operation of a boat is described in Indiana statute, stating “a person may not operate a boat in a manner that does any of the following; unnecessarily endangers the person or property of another person, unnecessarily interferes with the safe and lawful use of public water by another person.”
The Sheriff’s Office encouraged community members to exercise extreme caution as the department continues to receive calls on large amounts of debris traveling down the river with some of the debris being visible and exposed while other debris being below the surface.
The Sheriff’s Office encouraged community members seeking to utilize the river and lakes to visit the Indiana Code for hazardous wake and wash, I.C. 12-15-3-15, and dangerous operation prohibited, I.C. 14-15-3-6, for more information.
