THE WATER. WE ARE ON THE MONONGAHELA RIVER WITH THE FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION AND THEY SAY ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT IF YOU’RE HEADED TO THE RIVER IS WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET. IT’S NOT ALWAYS REQUIRED, BUT THEY SAY IT’S RECOMMENDED AND COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE. FOR MANY, BOATING IS ABOUT THE WATER, THE SUN. AND IN PITTSBURGH, DEFINITELY THE VIEWS FOR WATER CONSERVATION OFFICER MICHAEL JOHNSON, IT’S ABOUT MAKING SURE YOU GET ALL THAT SAFELY. IF YOU’RE NOT WEARING A LIFE JACKET, YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL ARE FAR LESS THAN IF YOU ARE. AND IN PA WATERS, WEARING A LIFE JACKET IS REQUIRED. IF YOU ARE 12 AND UNDER AND ON A BOAT 20FT OR LESS. JOHNSON SAYS THEY WILL BE LOOKING FOR THOSE VIOLATIONS AND OTHERS ON THE WATER THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND. ALSO, OPERATIONAL VIOLATIONS RIDING ON THE BOW, WHAT WE CALL ABOVE SLOW NO WAKE, WHICH IS WHEN YOU’RE AT SPEED, YOU’RE RIDING ON THE BOW, YOU’RE RIDING ON THE GUNWALE, YOU’RE RIDING ON A SWIM PLATFORM, FALLING OFF THE SWIM PLATFORM WHERE THERE’S PROPS, RIGHT THERE IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS. AND OFFICER JOHNSON SAYS, KNOW THE RULES FOR WAKE, WHICH CAN DAMAGE BOATS AT A MARINA OR MOORED ALONG THE CITY WALLS. THIS IS A NO WAKE ZONE HERE IN PITTSBURGH. ON WEEKENDS. SO 3:00 ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY, INCLUDING ALL THE THREE BIG SUMMER HOLIDAYS, MEMORIAL DAY, 4TH OF JULY AND LABOR DAY. IF YOU DO CREATE WAKE AND DAMAGE ANOTHER BOAT, YOU COULD BE LIABLE. OFFICER JOHNSON SAYS THE FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION WILL ALSO BE CHECKING THAT BOAT REGISTRATIONS ARE CURRENT. AND IF YOU WERE BORN AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 1982, HE WARNS, YOU MUST TAKE A BOATING SAFETY COURSE BEFORE YOU TAKE THE WHEEL. WE WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, BUT WE ALSO WANT PEOPLE TO GO HOME. AT THE END OF THE DAY. SO THE SPECIFICS ON WHEN YOU NEED TO WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET AND ANY OTHER RULES OF THE RIVER CAN BE FOUND ON THE FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION’S WEBSITE, WE HAVE A LINK FOR YOU AT WTAE DOT COM ON THE MONONGAHELA RIVER WI