WASHINGTON, D.C. — A National Park Service notice in today's Federal Register announced that the Lake Management Plan for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area has been approved, and that "personal watercraft use is authorized in specified zones."

According to the Federal Register notice, "as soon as practicable the NPS will begin to implement the Lake Management Plan described and analyzed as Alternative C (the Preferred Alternative) contained in the final [Environmental Impact Statement]." Among four alternatives, Alternative C of the Lake Management Plan "was deemed to be the 'environmentally preferred' alternative, and it was further determined that no impairment of park values would ensue based on its implementation."

"I am pleased that the process to allow personal watercraft back on Lake Mead is nearing its conclusion," said Kirsten Rowe, executive director of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association. "Personal watercraft manufacturers are proud of the new technology that they have created in order to produce cleaner and quieter vessels. We've been confident from the start that objective science would show that modern personal watercraft are among the most environmentally friendly motorboats on the water today."

Now that the Lake Management Plan has been approved, the required special regulation authorizing personal watercraft use on Lake Mead is expected to be published shortly.