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For Immediate Release
September 21, 2006
Contact: Brian Berry, 202-777-3524
Personal Watercraft Return to Curecanti National Recreation Area (CO)
After 4 Year Nat’l Park Service Delay, PWC Allowed Back at Blue Mesa Reservoir Today
WASHINGTON, DC — The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) declares victory at Curecanti National Recreation Area (NRA) today as personal watercraft are allowed back on Blue Mesa Reservoir and other waters within the park. This comes four years after a nationwide ban on personal watercraft (PWC). Since that time, however, 12 other national park units have reversed their PWC bans after science proved conclusively that PWC do not cause any unique environmental harm.
"This is a huge victory,” stated Maureen Healey, Executive Director of PWIA. “Today another national park has reaffirmed that personal watercraft are among the cleanest and quietest motorboats on the water. In every single instance when a scientific study has looked at the impact of PWC on a body of water where other motorized vessels are permitted, the results have come to the same conclusion that PWC should be re-allowed in that park.”
The final rule allows PWC use at Curecanti to occur in areas of Blue Mesa Reservoir and portions of the lake arms, including Sapinero, Cebolla, and Iola Basins; Bay of Chickens; Dry Creek; Elk Creek; the Highway 149 area; and Lake Fork, Soap Creek, and West Elk arms. The operation of all motorized vessels, however, continues to be prohibited in areas east of Beaver Creek within the Gunnison River Canyon and in the area downstream from the East Portal diversion dam. All designated launch areas on Blue Mesa Reservoir are open to PWC use. Personal watercraft are allowed to land on any shoreline at Blue Mesa Reservoir. In addition, PWC may only operate at flat wake speeds in the following areas: the area upstream from Lake City Bridge to Beaver Creek; and the area within the arms of Blue Mesa Reservoir that is less than 1,000 feet from shore to shore at full pool level.
In 2000, the National Park Service, through a court settlement, restricted PWC use in 21 park units pending the results of an environmental assessment and final rulemaking for each park. Curecanti NRA is the 13th consecutive park unit to restore PWC use after completing the scientific study and public rulemaking process. Two other national park units are in the final stages of the rulemaking process to determine if PWC will be allowed back into those parks.
As is the case with Curecanti, it has been common practice among the 13 parks that have restored PWC use to allow PWC rulemakings to languish — sometimes years — after scientifically determining PWC should never have been banned in the first place. PWC use was banned at Curecanti in the fall of 2002 and the environmental study conducted at Curecanti National Recreation Area was completed in June 2003. However, it was over three years later that the rule was finally published.
“Finishing the rules and restoring personal watercraft access has been delayed far too long. In the meantime, millions of Americans have been denied access to their national parks, thousands of small businesses have suffered, and thousands of jobs have been lost. This is not right,” said Healey. “While the national park service originally relied on outdated science when it agreed to this ban, it has since shown in 15 separate studies that PWC should not be banned where other boats are allowed. It’s time PWC use is restored in all public places where other boats are welcome.”
An economic impact study conducted by The Trade Partnership in early 2006 shows that the bans in the national parks have cost the U.S. economy an estimated $2.7 billion and at least 3,300 jobs.
PWC operators in Colorado must be 16 years of age to operate a PWC alone; a person 14-15 years of age may operate a PWC legally if they have completed a boater education course approved by the Colorado State Parks and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and has a boating safety certificate in his or her possession issued by the boating safety course provider.
Modern PWC comply with federal and state emissions requirements, and many models met the EPA's 2006 standards several years ahead of schedule. Since 1998, manufacturers have been producing PWC that are up to 90 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than previous models. New models can seat up to three passengers and tow a water skier or wake board. PWC have evolved into an environmentally friendly boating choice for families who wish to enjoy the water together, and have found personal watercraft to be affordable, easy to store, transport, and maintain.
Did you know?
- The typical PWC buyer is around age 40 with a family.
- Nearly 90 percent of all PWC sold in the U.S. in 2005 were three-passenger vessels.*
- About 80 percent all PWC sold in the U.S. in 2005 had new-technology engines such as four-stroke and direct-injection.*
- Twenty million Americans enjoy personal watercraft each year, according to a government survey. +
- U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that 99 percent of PWC are operated accident-free.
- Manufacturers have loaned more than 15,000 PWC to law enforcement, rescue and research organizations for use in on-water patrols, search and rescue operations, and marine mammal research.
As the trade association representing the personal watercraft manufacturers in the U.S., PWIA actively advocates for states to adopt reasonable regulations such as mandatory boating safety education for all PWC users, a minimum age of 16 to operate PWC, and daylight-only usage restrictions. PWIA’s mission is to ensure that personal watercraft and personal watercraft users are treated fairly when local, state and federal government officials consider boating regulations. More information about PWIA is available at www.pwia.org.
The following chart details national recreation areas, seashores, and lakeshores and their stage in the PWC review process. The National Park Service welcomes comments from the public.
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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE UNIT
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STATUS
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URL
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Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
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OPEN TO PWC as of May 27, 2004
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www.nps.gov/amis
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Assateague Island National Seashore (MD/VA)
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OPEN TO PWC as of June 30, 2003
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www.nps.gov/asis
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Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (MT/WY)
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OPEN TO PWC as of June 1, 2005
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www.nps.gov/bica
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Big Thicket National Preserve (TX)
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EA published July 24, 2002; rule in progress
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www.nps.gov/bith
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Cape Lookout National Seashore (NC)
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OPEN TO PWC as of September 8, 2006
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www.nps.gov/calo
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Chickasaw National Recreation Area (OK)
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OPEN TO PWC as of September 2, 2004
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www.nps.gov/chic
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Curecanti National Recreation Area (CO)
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OPEN TO PWC as of September 21, 2006
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www.nps.gov/cure
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Fire Island National Seashore (NY)
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OPEN TO PWC as of July 6, 2005
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www.nps.gov/fiis
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Gateway National Recreation Area (NJ/NY)
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EA published May 13, 2003; rule in progress
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www.nps.gov/gate
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ/UT)
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OPEN TO PWC as of May 1, 2003
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www.nps.gov/glca
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Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL/MS)
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OPEN TO PWC as of May 4, 2005
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www.nps.gov/guis
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Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ/NV)
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OPEN TO PWC as of April 9, 2003
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www.nps.gov/lame
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Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX)
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OPEN TO PWC as of May 27, 2004
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www.nps.gov/lamr
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Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (WA)
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OPEN TO PWC as of June 25, 2004
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www.nps.gov/laro
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Padre Island National Seashore (TX)
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EA in progress
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www.nps.gov/pais
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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (MI)
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OPEN TO PWC as of October 27, 2005
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www.nps.gov/piro
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* Source: Ehlert PowerSports Business, November 14, 2005
+ Source: National Survey on Recreation and the Environment 2000, U.S. Forest Service
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