More lake areas opened to personal watercraft

Friday, April 11, 2003 | 9:17 a.m.

The National Park Service has opened even more areas of Lake Mead to personal watercraft in a newly published map.

As a result personal watercraft will be permitted on more than 95 percent of the lake.

The most significant "red zone" -- or restricted area -- that was adjusted from an earlier version of the map was in the Upper Overton Arm, including the Overton Marina, where personal watercraft now will be permitted.

"We're quite pleased that the restricted areas were removed from the Overton Arm," Overton Marina manager Paul Chandler said Thursday. "The map that was (originally) publicized didn't do us any favors. But we knew it was only a temporary closure at this end of the lake."

The Bluewater Network, a national environmental organization based in San Francisco, said it would challenge the decision to allow personal watercraft on most areas of the lake.

The Bluewater Network's effort to restrict personal watercraft on Lake Mead and other lakes under park service control nationwide is more than two years old.

The park service's decision stems from an environmental assessment process begun after the group sued the park service in 2001.

More than 10,000 comments both for and against personal watercraft were considered in the environmental assessment, officials said.

The park service and the Bush administration made their decision based on Lake Mead's historical role as both a natural resource and the first designated national recreation area, officials said.

The park service last summer announced plans to temporarily ban watercraft in September 2002. But Daniel Boyle, owner of Marine Products Pro Shop in Henderson, countersued and blocked the move.

In related developments:

After Dec. 31, 2012, watercraft in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area will be required to have four-stroke engines or engines using improved technology.

"We wanted to leave the door open in case there is newer and better technology by then," Dey said.

New restrictions regarding the use of glass and Styrofoam by boaters and requiring the use of portable toilets were announced this week and will be phased in after an education program, Dey said.

Park rangers will visit boaters, campers and hikers through the summer to explain the changes, she said.

"They will still have time to learn the rules," Dey said.