FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif — The National Park Service announced the Final
Rule for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which "authorizes the use of
personal watercraft" on both Lake Mead and Lake Mohave.

Recreation Area managers developed the rule after extensive environmental
research into the impact that recreational boating. Through site-specific
studies, it was found by the National Park Service that PWC did not have any
greater impact on recreation area resources than did other forms of recreation, and it was on this basis that park managers developed
regulations that would protect the sensitive environmental areas within its
boundaries and leave other areas open for recreation.

Approximately 5 percent of the Recreation Area's waterways are off limits to
boaters.

Of particular interest to PWC owners was the opening of Black Canyon, a
twelve-mile stretch of the Colorado River from Willow Beach north to the
base of the Hoover Dam in Lake Mohave. Originally slated for closure to PWC,
it has been opened to the owners of PWC from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

"This is a great day for PWC owners across the country," said Stephan
Andranian, Government Affairs Manager for the American Watercraft
Association. "Finally, we have a rule that guarantees PWC owners access to
one of the great recreation areas and one of the most popular boating
destinations in the western United States."

The opening of Black Canyon was particularly gratifying to Andranian, who
stressed the importance of the beautiful waterway to managers at the
recreation area.

"It was vital that PWC owners be able to access Black Canyon. Experiencing
it aboard a PWC is second to none; it is simply breathtaking," said
Andranian.

The American Watercraft Association was involved from the beginning of the
rulemaking process, working in support of PWC owners' access rights. It is
also leading the fight to re-open other National Recreation Areas and
Seashores to PWC, like Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell).

"We hope that the other recreation areas and seashores will quickly finish
the rulemaking process, as all have recommended PWC access after scientific
analysis," said Andranian.