WORCESTER, Mass. — Lake Quinsigamond is a very popular area for boating and other forms of recreational activity during the summer months.

What You Need To Know

  • Lake Quinsigamond is a very popular area for boating and other forms of recreational activity during the summer months but the traffic on the water has come up with its own set of challenges.

  • Massachusetts Environmental Police, State Police, the Worcester and Shrewsbury Police departments have partnered with each other to keep the water safe.

  • People in Central Massachusetts have complained about speed and reckless operation from boats and jet skiers among other issues on the lake. 

  • When conducting boat checks, police are looking for registrations, life jacket violations, riding on the bow or gunnel of the boat, etc.

But all of the traffic out on the Central Mass. body of water does come up with its own set of challenges.

Which is why Massachusetts Environmental Police, State Police, the Worcester and Shrewsbury Police departments have partnered with each other to keep the water safe.

"Half of it is it in Worcester, half of it is in Shrewsbury," said Massachusetts Environmental Police Detective Sergeant Jason DeJackome. "We've had a lot of complaints about speed and reckless operation. Jet skis and jumping the wakes of other boats. Beaching on state property when they're not supposed to be." 

Spectrum News took part in a ride a long with Sgt. Jason DeJackome as he and other law enforcement officers spent a recent Saturday afternoon monitoring the lake.

DeJackome said police look out for several things when conducting a boating inspection.

 "We're looking for the registrations, making sure the vessels are registered," Dejackome said. "Then we're looking for any safety violations, we're looking for people riding on the bow or the gunnel. Any reckless operation, we're looking for any life jacket violations."

DeJackome said boating season typically runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

He said the number of people using the lake has increased dramatically since the pandemic.

"A lot of people are trying to use this asset as recreation," he said. "We've got people trying to fish, we've got people trying to water ski. Trying to tub. Just recreation on their boat trying to have a peaceful day." 

DeJackome wants people to know law enforcement is authorized to conduct random boat checks in Massachusetts if they deem it necessary.

He expects Labor Day weekend to be extremely busy on the water and strongly urges everyone using it to do so safely.

"More people are trying to get outdoors and utilize the waters of the commonwealth," he said. "Just in our interactions with people, but it's a nice spot as long as people can abide by the rules and regulations and keep it safe."

DeJackome urges every boat user to take safety courses so they will be ready if an issue comes up.