Lake Mead National Recreation Area
South Cove Launch Ramp Update
Personal watercraft Rules on Lake Mead
Following, are rules pertaining to the use of
personal watercraft on Lake Mead:
* Continued personal watercraft use on 95% of the
Lakes Mead and Lake 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% of the Park waters as primitive
or semi-private 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.
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