Curecanti's personal watercraft ban created a costly imbalance---(Colorado)

CaptnKirk · 04-16-2006, 03:32 PM

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The 1916 Organic Act created our national parks for recreation and conservation by all American citizens. Balancing enjoyment with conservation is a delicate act indeed. Unfortunately, the scales have become disproportionately unbalanced for many parks. The discriminatory ban on personal watercraft at the Curecanti National Recreation Area - on Blue Mesa Lake in west-central Colorado between Gunnison and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - has not only prohibited many Americans from recreational boating, it has also caused job loss, economic distress and depressed tourism. Not only is a certain segment of the boating population being discriminated against but the regional economy is being adversely affected because of delayed regulatory action by the National Park Service.

In the late 1990s, actions began that resulted in a unilateral ban on personal watercraft in our national parks. Soon thereafter, an out-of-court settlement between the U.S. Department of the Interior and an anti-boating group led to what was billed as a compromise.

This "compromise" was to allow personal watercraft use to continue in a handful of national park units while these parks individually put the boats to the test during a two-year grace period. Sadly for millions of Americans who owned personal watercraft at the time or made a living by renting, selling or servicing them, not a single national park unit, including Curecanti National Recreation Area, managed to get the job done during the grace period and personal watercraft were banned. Today, six years later, there are still national parks that remain closed to personal watercraft - mired in a bureaucratic process that has gone completely awry.

Now, we find even more cause for concern. These personal watercraft bans have cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars and thousands of jobs. A recently released economic analysis concludes that the upstream and downstream economic impact from the bans total more than $2.7 billion and 3,300 jobs. Manufacturers alone have sustained a $1.3 billion shock.

Thanks to recent scientific studies conducted by the National Park Service, we now know that there is no reason to ban personal watercraft from waters that allow other types of motorboating. In fact, 15 national parks since 2000 have completed environmental reviews and all of them reach the same conclusion: personal watercraft present no adverse impact. Every park unit that has subsequently completed the required public rulemaking process has welcomed personal watercraft back.

In the meantime, irreversible damage has occurred and taken a toll on the market. Some small businesses had to close their doors as personal watercraft sales declined dramatically. Even though 10 national parks have reopened, most of them were forced to close to personal watercraft use for several boating seasons. Some park units have yet to complete the rulemaking process - including Curecanti National Recreation Area, now 33 months overdue.

All of this is totally unnecessary. The National Park Service must now step up to the plate and conclude the environmental assessments, publish the final rules and, above all, restore that delicate balance for which these national treasures were created - for enjoyment and preservation. It can be done.

Last May, the House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Parks held an oversight hearing to encourage the National Park Service to expedite the delayed rulemaking. And just this month, Congress has once again called the National Park Service to Capitol Hill to demand swift action.

Personal watercraft are among the most environmentally friendly motorboats on the water today. Technological enhancements introduced in the late 1990s resulted in engine technology that is up to 90 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter. In fact, the vast majority of personal watercraft sold today are equipped with four-stroke engines, universally recognized as one of the cleanest engine types available.

These small boats have come a long way. Today's personal watercraft are mostly larger three-person models equipped with increased storage capacity, and are often used for water skiing. They have become an excellent alternative for families wishing to enjoy the water together but who cannot accommodate the demands of a larger, costlier powerboat.

We've come a long way, and it's time for the National Park Service to do its part. Finish the rulemaking without delay so Americans won't miss yet another boating season.

Rocky Mountain News