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VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) - A lot of people are swimming or boating on Lake Ashtabula this summer.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department have set up life jacket loaner stations along Lake Ashtabula and their respective recreational areas. Baldhill Dam Resource Manager Scott Tichy talked about the importance of wearing a life jacket whether you’re a child or an adult.

”Really want to encourage the adults to wear lifejackets,” Tichy said. “I’ve worked out at Ashtabula for over 30 years and in that time, unfortunately, I’ve had to work on a few drownings out here... and every single case those drownings are all adults that drowned. “So it’s really important that all of us be really aware when we’re around the water, when we’re on a boat, not only to have that life jacket with us but to put it on.”

He said, right now, the Sheyenne River flows around 900 cubic feet per second (cfc,) so exercise caution boating or kayaking on the river.

”We’ve had some higher flows on the river this year than we’ve had the last couple years. Remind everyone to use some caution when you’re out there. It’s still safe to go out, right now we’re at about 900cfs going out right now. So just use some caution out there,” Tichy said.

He reminds parents to closely watch young children swimming in designated swimming areas, and remember, life jackets or floating devices are a good idea for everyone.

Tichy also wanted to remind boaters to exercise courtesy at the boat ramps.