The Tarrant Regional Water District has significantly strengthened its emergency response capabilities on and around Eagle Mountain Lake this year through its partnership with the Eagle Mountain Fire Department. This collaboration is part of an initiative to enhance public safety in terms of the recreational areas on Eagle Mountain Lake, which are frequently visited by boaters and people who are fishing.
The TRWD Law Enforcement Division is led by Sgt. Rick Odom, who oversees security across 14 counties through the district’s jurisdiction. Odom is also responsible for maintaining the safety of the district’s vast water resources including dams and water facilities.
In addition to criminal investigations and patrol operations, one of the law enforcement team’s top duties is responding to lake emergencies like boat accidents, medical emergencies and drownings.
Until recently, TRWD was the only agency equipped to handle these emergencies on the lake. Police officers, many trained as EMTs, responded to calls and provided medical aid plus they transport victims to ambulances. However, these emergency calls grew, especially during the summer season, and TRWD recognized the value of collaboration with the Eagle Mountain Fire Department to enhance response times. The new partnership brings big improvements to the lake.
“That obviously helped tremendously with the response times,” Odom said. “Because anything out in the lake, you’re going to have delayed response from getting the ambulance to the marina and then getting the patient to the ambulance.”
TRWD has donated to Eagle Mountain Fire Department a 24-foot center-console boat with emergency response tools, including a fire pump and transport capabilities. This investment helps with visibility on the lake.
“You want to be able to keep your eye on everything,” Odom said. “While most people are out to have fun and we encourage people to come out and enjoy the lake, we want them to be safe about doing so.”
Improving water rescues, the TRWD LED and the EMFD have incorporated cuttingedge technology into the boat like sonar.
Sonar systems help detect objects like sunken boats or missing people and provide evidence in boat accident investigations.
“We utilize sonar and then other methods of diagramming and investigating crimes,” Odom said.
In addition to the technological upgrades, the TRWD LED and EMFD teams will engage in joint training exercises to improve coordination during emergencies. These rescue training scenarios, which focus on removing injured people from the water, will ensure first responders are prepared for unpredictable lake incidents.
“Everything on the water is more difficult,” Odom said. “On the water, everything is moving. The training is more intense because you’re work- ing on a body of water. People don’t realize how much harder it is.”
Public education about lake safety is a key focus for the TRWD law enforcement division. Officers regularly visit schools and host water safety training sessions for local communities to reduce accidents and educate people about regulations. Officers also stress the importance of having the correct navigation lighting, as bright lights can confuse other boaters and create safety hazards.
“The trend that we see increasing is these boats are coming from the factory with these LED dock lights on them and they are extremely bright,” Odom said. “They are brighter than car headlights.” The TRWD regularly conducts safety inspections to ensure that boats comply with regulations. The overall goal is to create a safe environment for everyone using the lake.
With the partnership with TRWD LED and EMFD, the departments are poised to deliver a higher level of service to residents and visitors to Eagle Mountain Lake. The combined expertise of both agencies will ensure a quicker, more efficient response to emergencies.
