Oklahoma recreation area reopens to PWC

swadminSeptember 9, 2004

WASHINGTON – Oklahoma’s Chickasaw National Recreation Area reopened to personal watercraft for the Labor Day Weekend, according to a release last week from the Personal Watercraft Industry Association.

Almost three years ago, the National Park Service was required by a court settlement to restrict personal watercraft in the area, pending the results of scientific studies regarding the vessels’ impact. However, Chickasaw has completed the required environmental assessments and concluded that PWC present “no significant impact,” and are an appropriate boating activity for the National Recreation Area, the PWIA said.

A National Park Service press release that outlines the full ruling is available online at http://www.nps.gov/chic/pphtml/newsdetail14212.html.

Six additional National Park Service units welcome personal watercraft, while seven other units are in the final stages of the rulemaking process to reallow the vessels. Scientific analyses on the effects of personal watercraft are currently underway at two National Seashores.