September 6, 2002
For Immediate Release
Karla Norris, 702-293-8947
Karla_Norris@NPS.gov

Effective Date on Personal Watercraft Closures Extended

The National Park Service and Blue Water Network reached an agreement to extend the September 15th date for banning personal watercraft (PWC) from eight units of the national park system, including Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The extension allows unrestricted PWC use until November 6, 2002, the end of the typical recreational boating season.

Between November 7, 2002 and January 1, 2003, PWC use at Lake Mead National Recreation Area will be allowed in conformance with the following stipulations:

PWC use will continue with no restrictions: On Lake Mohave from Cottonwood Cove downriver to Davis Dam, in the Willow Beach area between the marker buoys, in the Boulder Basin and Boulder Canyon area, in the Overton Arm between Black Ridge and Cathedral Cove, and in the Temple Bar Area between Burrow Bay and Delmar Bay.

The following areas will be closed to PWC use: From below Hoover Dam to the marker buoy above Willow Beach, from the marker buoy below Willow Beach to Eldorado Canyon, Bonnelli Bay, Gypsum Bay, from Iceberg Canyon to the boundary of the Grand Canyon, and in the Overton Arm north of Black Ridge.

The remainder of the lake will be open to PWC use: with a 200 foot PWC wakeless zone extending from all shorelines.

According to Superintendent William K. Dickinson, "Lake Mead NRA is pleased with the extension. It will allow for continued PWC use through the end of the busy visitor season and for PWC use with some limitations through the end of the calendar year."

The agreement is not effective until the court enters an order incorporating it. Beginning January 1, 2003. PWCs will be banned until the Record of Decision (ROD) on the Lake Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statements (LMP/FEIS) and the final rule authorizing PWC use consistent with the ROD is promulgated. It is expected that both processes will be completed in the Spring of 2003.

[Download Washington Press Release PDF 13k] [Download PWC Draft Rule PDF 201k]
[Download JPEG Map image 62k] [Download PDF Map 1,183k]

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a unit of the National Park Service.