News
GRDA Police remind public of special July 4 holiday rules in place for Duck Creek
Jul 01, 2021
Map showing the restricted area for the July 4 weekend’s aerobatics and fireworks displays.
As organizers prepare for one of Oklahoma’s largest July 4 celebrations on Grand Lake, the Grand River Dam Authority Police Department is reminding the public of some special rules in place to help facilitate the activities.
Not only will Oklahoma’s largest fireworks show – the Duck Creek Fireworks Show – return to the lake on July 4, but so will an aerobatics display, prior to the fireworks.
As a safety precaution, and to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations for a special airbox area, a portion of the Duck Creek arm will be closed to boat traffic on Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4. GRDA Police and event volunteers will close the airbox area from 6 PM till the show ends at 7:30PM. There will be no boats allowed to raft or travel through the area during the closure for the show. Boaters are reminded to remain outside of buoys that will be present in the event area marking the closed area, and to abide by instructions provided by event staff and GRDA Police. Boaters are also reminded that it is unlawful to tie their vessel to any buoy used for navigation controls.
Additionally, officials will also be implementing a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) for all aircraft including drones or unmanned aircraft, as well as kites, in the Duck Creek area during the aerial displays on July 3 and 4. The TFR will be in place on Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4, from 6PM to 8PM both nights, for an area of 5-miles surrounding the Arrowhead Yacht Club on the Duck Creek arm of Grand Lake. Operations of drones and kites during those times is a violation of FAA Regulations and a safety hazard to the performers. Drone users are reminded to adhere to these flight restrictions, or they will face penalties from the FAA and GRDA Police. Any use of drones over the restricted area will only delay the event since performing aircraft will not fly in the area if drones are being used.
The Duck Creek Fireworks will take place in front of the Arrowhead Yacht Club. Barges used for the discharge of the fireworks will be in place in the Duck Creek channel at this location the entire day of July 4. Police will begin closing the fireworks discharge area to boat traffic after 9PM and it will remain closed till the completion of the fireworks display at 11PM.
GRDA officials will begin placing navigation controls in the Duck Creek channel on Wednesday, June 30, and officers will be present in the Duck Creek area to enforce navigation controls throughout the day on July 3 and 4. Boaters are reminded that the entire Duck Creek arm will be a No Wake zone beginning at 12AM on July 4 and will remain in effect till sunrise on July 5. All vessels will be required to operate at idle speed and adhere to the No Wake regulation in Duck Creek for the entire day on July 4.
Boaters are reminded to use caution in all areas where these events are taking place, watch for special event navigation buoys and to comply with instructions from event staff and police officers in the event areas.