Correspondent photo / John Patrick Gatta Evan Jagger of Buckeye Water to Trail Adventures uses his kayak to search for any garbage along the Mahoning River at Thomas A. Swift MetroPark in Leavittsburg. Jagger was promoting reliable practices on the water as part of National Safe Boating Week, which runs through Friday.

NILES — National Safe Boating Week may run through Friday, but for Sebring’s Evan Jagger of Buckeye Water to Trail Adventures, informing nature enthusiasts how to protect themselves among the elements is a 24/7, 365 endeavor.

“One of the biggest messages I’d encourage is making safety a priority,” he said. “Wear a properly fitted life jacket, check weather and water conditions, bring appropriate gear, and practice Leave No Trace principles to help protect the waterways we enjoy.”

On Sunday, Jagger visited three Mahoning River launch sites — Foster MetroPark in Newton Falls, Thomas Swift MetroPark in Leavittsburg and Niles Riverside Park — to promote the annual pre-Memorial Day campaign that encourages responsible on-the-water practices, including checking safety gear and emphasizing the use of a life jacket.

The latest statistics, which are from 2024, show boating-related fatalities and incidents went up from the previous year.

Jagger mentioned last June’s tubing incident on the Cuyahoga River, which resulted in the deaths of a father and his son, as an example of how not being aware of safety issues can lead to tragedy. Because of recent storms, the river was at a high, hazardous water level.

According to 2024 U.S. Coast Guard statistics, where cause of death was known, 87% of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket.

“I’ve seen a lot of people going out without life jackets (on Sunday). That’s why we have the sign (promoting life jacket usage) on our Jeep and we do what we can. We’ll be out here promoting it for the rest of the year.”

He noted that an ignorance of safe practices can not only lead to injury or death for those using the area’s waterways, but also affect the work of first responders.

“It’s important to facilitate the safety aspect because without that we could put a burden on emergency services and all sorts of things that we didn’t intend to happen. So, it’s important to be out here to support ‘Wear your life jacket and know your equipment’,” Jagger said.

He also used his kayak to paddle in the river at Thomas Swift MetroPark and search for any trash that collected in the water.

Speaking about the Mahoning River, he said, “A lot of what we do, cleanup-wise, is trying to get people to realize this is your backyard. Everybody uses this water — whether it’s for recreation — everybody in the area drinks the surface water. Whether you drink from city or well, it all comes from the Mahoning River Watershed.

“So, it’s important to realize what we’re putting out here and, also, what we’re taking out because we’ve pulled a lot of weird trash out. On top of that, as we expand access and we’re able to paddle the Mahoning River more, it’s important to facilitate the safety aspect.”

At 8, Jagger joined his grandfather and paddled on Northeast Ohio’s rivers and lakes. Those initial experiences left a lasting impression.

“I’ve always had that fundamental love for nature. When I moved to Sebring and started paddling the Mahoning River in that area, just seeing a lot of trash…a lot of people didn’t realize that the river was there and what it’s doing,” he said.

That inspired him to start Buckeye Water in 2024. “I had this idea of, ‘Why don’t we get people out in kayaks, show them what’s going on here.

“In Sebring we drink directly from the Mahoning River. So, when there’s trash floating around in the river, that’s deeply concerning. So, that kick-started the whole thing to start the company and get people on the water, show how to get in boats and also show them that there’s a way that we can get out here and we can clean up the river, and we can have a good time while we’re doing it.”