By:Kennon Paulk
This is the boathouse used by the Department of Natural Resources. Game Warden Clay Baker comes here almost every day during the summer to touch base before going out on patrol.
Game Warden Clay Baker reviews the previous night's paperwork making sure all necessary information has been recorded. Baker has been a game warden for over three years.
Game Warden Clay Baker enters a patrol boat and turns on the central power battery. Lake Sinclair is the main reservoir that Baker patrols.
Game Warden Clay Baker leaves the boathouse to begin his lake patrol. Baker was one of four game wardens on patrol over the July 4 weekend for the entire area of Lake Sinclair, an over 15,000 acre reservoir.
Game Warden Clay Baker scans the lake ensuring that everyone on the lake is operating correctly. Over the July 4 weekend, there were two drownings reported on Lake Sinclair.
Game Warden Clay Baker takes a relaxed driving position as he drives to his next location. "That's one big thing about our job is it's just a lot of this right here," Baker said.
The Georgia Power Plant Wallace Dam is one of Game Warden Clay Baker's checkpoints. The entrance is gated and can only be reached with certain clearance.
The Wallace Dam sits in between Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee creating energy to power the surrounding counties that share the lakes. Game Warden Clay Baker explained that many people like to take their boats here and fish, which is only available to licensed fishers.
Game Warden Clay Baker, standing atop the Wallace Dam, checks both Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee to see if there are any fishers around the dam. This dam is one of two in the area that produces energy for the surrounding counties.
While checking the Lake Sinclair Dam, Game Warden Clay Baker spots a truck that isn't Georgia Power labeled. Baker explained that sometimes the gate to this specific dam is left open and people come in here and fish.
Game Warden Clay Baker walks toward the Lake Sinclair Dam to try and locate the owners of a truck left outside the dam. Dams are popular fishing spots because they restrict fish from being able to swim too far away.
Game Warden Clay Baker grabs the fisher's driver's license and fishing license. The man had a residential fishing license but was not a resident of Georgia, Baker left him with a warning and explained how to get the correct license to prevent further issues.
Game Warden Clay Baker stands with a woman he caught digging for artifacts outside the public access area of the Lake Sinclair Dam. Digging for artifacts is a ticket that carries a fine of a couple hundred dollars, the exact amount differs from county to county.
Game Warden Clay Baker stands at the car of the diggers he found and gathers their information. Baker didn't find any artifacts with the diggers so he gave them a written warning.
Game Warden Clay Baker hands in a stack of citations that have been filled out ready to be filed at the Baldwin County Courthouse. For holiday weekends like July 4, it is not uncommon for there to be over 50 citations written.
