Area Prepares for Bumper Bash 2011

Get the boats, coolers, and sunscreen ready as the annual Bumper Bash event gets underway on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m. on the backside of Dobbins Island in the Magothy River.

Organized by a group of volunteers, this annual event has garnered hundreds of boaters, so much so that law enforcement is planning special rules for the event.

According to the event website, there will be double the patrol and enforcement presence at the event compared to last year, including officials from the Anne Arundel County Police, the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR), and the U.S. Coast Guard. Members of the county’s police and fire departments will also be on the island in case of any emergencies.

DNR officers will establish a 40-foot wide float free channel directly to the center of the beach to allow for safe emergency response, according to the event website. Officials warn there will be a zero tolerance policy for unsafe or illegal activity.

As for cleanup, organizers are depending on volunteers and hopes everyone pitches in and “takes out what they bring in.”

The website also reminds visitors that the event is based in the waters surrounding the beach and that the island is private property.

Proceeds from the sale of event t-shirts will go to the Maryland Special Olympics.