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Operation Dry Water, a national campaign aimed at deterring drinking and boating, is this weekend

June 24, 2015 at 4:50AM

Boats jam a channel on Lake Minnetonka Friday, May 22, 2015, near Lord Fletcher's in Spring Park, MN.](DAVID JOLES/STARTRIBUNE)djoles@startribune.com As boaters flock to Minnesota lakes and rivers this holiday weekend for the unofficial kick-off to the boating season, they'll face more inspections in and out of the water as local cities and counties ramp up their work to stop the spread of invasive species. Across the metro, more boat accesses will be staffed by watercraft inspectors thanks to $10 million funneled to county government programs this year, up from $4.5 million the state allocated last year. ORG XMIT: MIN1505222156200206 (DAVID JOLES — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Officers will be on the water in force this weekend under Operation Dry Water, a national campaign aimed at deterring drinking and boating. Last year, alcohol was a factor in six of the state's 14 fatal boating accidents.