Enforcement

Awards Program

National Awards | 2023

The Operation Dry Water Awards Program recognizes law enforcement officers and agencies that are making a positive impact on boating under the influence (BUI).

These law enforcement officers and agencies participate in the national Operation Dry Water (ODW) campaign and make a difference in recreational boating safety by raising awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence and by removing impaired operators from the nation’s waterways – protecting our nation and the communities they serve.

Operation Dry Water and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) will recognize the top agencies and officer nationwide based on BUI related activity and their participation in the Operation Dry Water campaign.

Nominations

Nominations can be submitted starting July 5th, 2023.

Award Categories

ODW Officer of the Year Award

The Officer of the Year will be recognized nationally based on a nomination submitted by the Officer's agency which includes a description of the officer’s work throughout the year in BUI prevention and enforcement, as well as their activity and BUI arrests from the Operation Dry Water weekend. The Officer of the Year will be invited to the NASBLA Annual Conference and will be recognized in person at the NASBLA Awards Banquet.

Nominations will open following the 2023 Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend.

View award details & eligibility information »

ODW Media Award

The Media Award recognizes the best all-around media outreach campaign running prior to and during the annual Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend. Judges will consider all aspects including: content, use of imagery, graphics and video, engagement, presentation, innovation, creativity, originality, use of multiple applications, and impact. Nominations are open to any organization or law enforcement agency promoting the Operation Dry Water campaign for 2023. The Media Award winner will be invited to the NASBLA Annual Conference and will be recognized in person at the NASBLA Awards Banquet. 

Nominations will open following the 2023 Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend.

View award details & eligibility information »

*NEW* Regional Law Enforcement Award

The Regional Law Enforcement Award recognizes exceptional, regional-level achievements in boating under the influence detection, deterrence, and enforcement by an individual, a unit, bureau, division, or a combination of the preceding, for outstanding work directly related to the Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend. This is not intended to be an “Officer of the Year” award, nor will it be given for one performing his/her duties well. Rather, this award was developed to recognize outstanding, regional-level accomplishments above and beyond simply doing a “good job.” The winner in each region will be invited to send one representative to the NASBLA Annual Conference and will be recognized in person at the NASBLA Awards Banquet.

Nominations will open following the 2023 Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend.

View award details & eligibility information »

Retired Awards

ODW Top Agency Award

The top agency in each category (small, medium and large) will be recognized nationally based on the number of BUI arrests made / the number of officer deployed for the Operation Dry Water weekend. The winner in each category will be invited to send one representative to the NASBLA Annual Conference and will be recognized in person at the NASBLA Awards Banquet.

This award has been retired. 

ODW Awards

2022 Award Winners

ODW Officer of the Year Award
Officer Specialist Nicole Basford

ODW Top Agency Award (Small)
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, California

ODW Top Agency Award (Medium)
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources

ODW Top Agency Award (Large)
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

ODW Agency Media Award
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Previous recipients

2022 Award Winners
2021 Award Winners
2020 Award Winners
2019 Award Winners
2018 Award Winners
2017 Award Winners