The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has announced it will participate in a national initiative aimed at educating people on the dangers of boating under the influence.

Department spokeswoman Melissa Cummings says the initiative is an effort to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities linked to boaters operating watercrafts while under the influence. Cummings says officials from the agency's Wildlife Resources Division will participate the program dubbed Operation Dry Water.

The program was launched in 2009 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Cummings says rangers have made 71 arrests on Georgia waterways this year and a total of 180 in 2012.

Tags: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, boating deaths, boater safety, BUI, boating safety, boating under the influence, operation dry water