36 CFR 3.9: May I operate my personal watercraft (PWC) in park waters?

(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.