Find Recreation Areas with WATERSPORTS Activities
|
Water
Sports
America’s public lakes,
rivers, and seashores
offer some of the best
water for recreation
on our continent. Enjoy
scuba diving an underwater
nature trail at a National
Marine Sanctuary or
body surfing at a national
seashore.
In addition, some recreation
sites offer on-site
vendors who will rent
equipment, including
snorkeling gear, boats,
canoes, and kayaks.
Some sites offer tour
packages through concessionaires.
Licensing, fees and
seasonal restrictions
vary from site to site;
for more information
on a particular watersport,
please contact that
site directly.
|
photo
courtesy of the
Army Corps of
Engineers
water skiing
at Saylorville
Lake |
What
do we mean by Water
Sports ?
RecML, the
recreation standard
that is being developed,
describes
water sports as:
waterskiing, surfing,
scuba diving, visiting
a beach, swimming in
an outdoor pool,
swimming in lakes and
rivers
Practice
Good Stewardship of
our Waterways:
You can help to
take good care of our
lakes, rivers, and
other waterways so
that others may enjoy
these areas for years
to come by practicing
some of the following
actions:
Don't
Litter... take along
a trash bag or other
receptacle for collecting
your trash so that
you can deposit it
in the proper trash
receptacle. Always
use proper dumping
stations.
Make
sure that you operate
the correct type of
watercraft permitted
in that area. Check
with your destination
ahead of time to ensure
that the boat, canoe,
or other watercraft
you plan to use is
allowed.
Pay
attention to local
procedures and cautions
for cleaning your watercraft
after you leave the
water so that you don't
facilitate the spread
of nuisance species
such as the Zebra Mussel
to the next body of
water you may visit
with your boat or other
watercraft.
Don't
operate a boat or watercraft
in areas where they
are not permitted.
These areas have been
declared "off
limits" to watercraft
to protect wildlife,
vegetation, or for
your safety.
Safety
While Boating:
Wear
your personal floatation
device (pfd) and make
sure that your passengers
wear theirs, too !
If
operating a houseboat,
be careful of carbon
monoxide build-up around
the boat. Also use
caution around the
electrical connections
to the boat slip or
dock.
Obey
the posted speedlimits
and wake warnings
Do
not operate your watercraft
on unauthorized waterways
Never
consume alcohol while
operating a watercraft
Bring
along extra safety
items such as water,
flashlights, maps,
and a cellphone or
radio