Lake Powell Personal Watercraft Ban Lifted

Your source for Utah Recreation and Outdoor Information

Personal Watercraft Back for Good on Powell

Glen Canyon has now selected a permanent management plan that will allow personal watercraft to operate on most areas of the lake. (6-30-03)

Personal watercraft allowed back on Lake Powell

The National Park Service has lifted the ban that prohibited personal watercraft use on Lake Powell, effective May 10, 2003, through Sept. 30, 2003. "We are very pleased all parties involved were able to agree on this temporary lifting of the ban," said Superintendent Kitty L. Roberts.

Personal watercraft had been banned from the lake while the National Recreation Area worked out a formal plan to manage their use and still protect sensitive areas. The formal plan is expected to be officially adopted this summer and will probably include restrictions like those found in the temporary agreement, which allows personal watercraft use on all areas of Lake Powell with the following exceptions:

From the mouth of the San Juan River to Glen Canyon NRA boundary.

North or beyond mile marker 108 of the Colorado River (just south of Knowles Canyon), as measured from Glen Canyon Dam, to the border of the Glen Canyon NRA.

The segment of the Colorado River below or south of the Glen Canyon Dam to the Glen Canyon NRA border.

Wakeless speed only on the Escalante River from Cow Canyon to Coyote Gulch; from Coyote Gulch to the Glen Canyon NRA boundary the river is closed to personal watercraft.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Superintendent Kitty Roberts participated in the negotiation of this agreement, which not only allows visitors to use their personal watercraft on the majority of Lake Powell but also provides the local business communities of Page and other areas of Arizona and Utah and the park concessioner the opportunity to continue their personal watercraft business operations while the National Park Service completes the environmental planning process and rule-making.

Personal Watercraft Back for Good on Powell

Personal watercraft allowed back on Lake Powell

Listen to the Utah Outdoors radio show, Saturdays from 6-8 a.m. on KSL.