Posted: Fri, 28 May 2010 10:25 AM - 13,147 Readers

By: Josh Hinkle

With Memorial Day weekend full speed ahead, local law enforcement agents are gearing up for the kickoff of boating season. And it's a bigger group than ever. 13 agencies now make up the Lake Travis Task Force .

As their first assignment, they are starting earlier than ever, getting out in front of potential problem a week before the holiday. The warning sound for the weekend ahead blared a little early for Cpl. Danny Forbes of the Lower Colorado River Authority Rangers .

Seeing passengers standing near the sides of a boat speeding past Mansfield Dam was cause for concern.

"We try to educate them on what they need to do to be safe," said Forbes.

Standing on the sides, out-of-date registration, and an empty fire extinguisher. Forbes let the boaters off with a warning, hoping it sinks in for the coming days.

"I notice you have some beer here,” he told the boaters. “Please take it easy on it. Every year on this lake, we lose 12-15 people, the majority of them because they are intoxicated."

Forbes said he expects to see a 1,000-1,500 in Devil’s Cove alone this weekend. That is twice as many as last year's drought-effected Memorial Day.

"The water does get really rough,” said boater Charlie Balay.

"This little boat does not like big waves,” her fiancé Bobby Earl added.

"The majority of the people out here that do get injured and end up dying in the water are not wearing a life jacket,” Forbes said.

So far, this year, four people have drowned in Lake Travis. As another call beckons, Forbes said he hates to think it but would not be surprised if this weekend's recklessness brings another death.

"Come out and have a good time,” he said, “but please be safe."