Personal Watercraft Rules on Lake Mead

Effective immediately the following are the new rules pertaining to use of personal watercraft on Lake Meade.

· Continued personal watercraft use on 95 percent of Lakes Mead and Mohave.

· For safety, shoreline accessibility, and social carrying capacity, the total boats allowed at any one time on Lakes Mead and Mohave will be increased to a total of 5,055.

· Establishment of 5 percent of the park waters as primitive or semi-primitive settings.

· Primitive zones will be generally managed for non-motorized use, but in response to public access concerns, electric trolling motors will be allowed. Semi-primitive areas will be managed for flat-wake speed in all areas except Black Canyon. Personal watercraft are prohibited in primitive and semi-primitive areas (about 5 percent of Lakes Mead and Mohave).

· In response to comments from the public and requests from state agencies in Nevada and Arizona, the proposed 100-foot no-wake zone around both lakes has been revised to include a 200-foot flat-wake zone around beaches occupied by bathers, around boats at the shoreline, and persons in the water or at the shoreline. This is to establish a safe shoreline environment for shoreline users and is similar to the state of Nevada boating law.

· The National Park Service will work with states to develop uniform boating laws and mandatory education programs. Currently, Nevada and Arizona boating laws are not uniform.

· Alcohol consumption by the operator of a boat that is underway will be prohibited.

· Water quality will be enhanced by requiring all boaters to possess a marine head or portable toilet while camping on the shoreline. Additionally, glass beverage containers and Styrofoam will be prohibited within the park.

· Beginning December 31, 2012, boats that do not meet the Environmental Protection Agency Rule for gasoline spark-ignition marine engines will be prohibited on Lakes Mead and Mohave. After that date, The National Park Service will require the exclusive use of four-stroke engines, direct-injection two-stroke engines, or equivalent technology. The public has almost a decade to convert to the new technology. 
Contact www.nps.gov/lame for more information.