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Code of Federal Regulations Title 36. Parks, Forests, and Public Property § 36.3.9 May I operate my personal watercraft (PWC) in park waters?

Current as of January 02, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) A person may operate a PWC only in park areas where authorized by special regulation. Special regulations may only be promulgated in the 21 parks listed in the following table:

Name

Water type

State

Amistad National Recreation Area

Impounded Lake

TX

Assateague Island National Seashore

Open Ocean/Bay

MD/VA

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Impounded Lake

MT

Big Thicket National Preserve

River

TX

Cape Cod National Seashore

Open Ocean/Bay

MA

Cape Lookout National Seashore

Open Ocean/Bay

NC

Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Impounded Lake

OK

Cumberland Island National Seashore

Open Ocean/Bay

GA

Curecanti National Recreation Area

Impounded Lake

CO

Delaware Water Gap

River

PA/NJ

Fire Island National Seashore

Open Ocean/Bay

NY

Gateway National Recreation Area

Open Ocean/Bay

NY

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Impounded Lake

AZ/UT

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Open Ocean/Bay

FL/MS

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Natural Lake

IN

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Impounded Lake

AZ/NV

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

Impounded Lake

TX

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

Impounded Lake

WA

Padre Island National Seashore

Open Ocean/Bay

TX

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Natural Lake

MI

Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area

Impounded Lake

CA

(b) Where authorized, operation of a PWC on park waters is subject to the following conditions:

(1) No person may operate a PWC unless each person aboard is wearing a Type I, II, III, or V PFD approved by the United States Coast Guard.

(2) A person operating a PWC equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cut-off switch must attach such lanyard to his person, clothing, or PFD, as appropriate for the specific vessel.

(3) No person may operate a PWC anytime between sunset and sunrise.

(4) No person may operate a PWC by jumping the wake, becoming partially airborne or completely leaving the water while crossing the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of the vessel creating the wake.

(5) If a park area is located within a State that has more restrictive regulations for the operation of PWC, then applicable State law applies in lieu of paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(4) of this section.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Code of Federal Regulations Title 36. Parks, Forests, and Public Property § 36.3.9 May I operate my personal watercraft (PWC) in park waters? - last updated January 02, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/cfr/title-36-parks-forests-and-public-property/cfr-sect-36-3-9/

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