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Background
<br />Year
<br />1987
<br />TABLE
<br />Recreational
<br />Boats Owned*
<br />14,515,000
<br />2: NATIONWIDE
<br />PWC
<br />Ownedd
<br />N/A
<br />PWC ESTIMATES
<br />Number of
<br />PWC in
<br />Accidents
<br />376
<br />AND
<br />Number
<br />PWC
<br />Injuries
<br />156
<br />ACCIDENT
<br />PWC
<br />Fatalities --in
<br />5
<br />STATISTICS
<br />Number
<br />Boats Involved
<br />Accidents
<br />9,020
<br />PWC Involved
<br />in Accidents
<br />4.2%
<br />1988
<br />15,093,000
<br />N/A
<br />650
<br />254
<br />20
<br />8,981
<br />7.2%
<br />1989
<br />15,658,000
<br />N/A
<br />844
<br />402
<br />20
<br />8,020
<br />10.5%
<br />1990
<br />15,987,000
<br />N/A
<br />1,162
<br />532
<br />28
<br />8,591
<br />13.5%
<br />1991
<br />16,262,000
<br />305,915
<br />1,513
<br />708
<br />26
<br />8,821
<br />17.2%
<br />1992
<br />16,262,000
<br />372,283
<br />1,650
<br />730
<br />34
<br />8,206
<br />20.1%
<br />1993
<br />16,212,000
<br />454,545
<br />2,236
<br />915
<br />35
<br />8,689
<br />25.7%
<br />1994
<br />16,239,000
<br />600,000
<br />3,002
<br />1,338
<br />56
<br />9,722
<br />30.9%
<br />1995
<br />15,375,000
<br />760,000
<br />3,986
<br />1,617
<br />68
<br />11,534
<br />34.6%
<br />1996
<br />15,830,000
<br />900,000
<br />4,099
<br />1,837
<br />57
<br />11,306
<br />36.3%
<br />1997
<br />16,230,000
<br />1,000,000
<br />4,070
<br />1,812
<br />84
<br />11,399
<br />35.7%
<br />1998
<br />16,657,000
<br />1,100,000
<br />3,607
<br />1,743
<br />78
<br />11,368
<br />31.7%
<br />1999
<br />16,773,000
<br />1,096,000
<br />3,374
<br />1,614
<br />66
<br />11,190
<br />30.2%
<br />2000
<br />16,965,000
<br />1,078,400
<br />3,282
<br />1,580
<br />68
<br />11,079
<br />29.6%
<br />Total
<br />33,851
<br />15,238
<br />645
<br />Source: USCG 2001.
<br />N/A = not available.
<br />'Estimates provided by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (USCG 2001).
<br />Park staff believes PWC use has increased since 1995, and a registration survey mailed to vessel users
<br />requesting an annual permit revealed that in 2000, 0.69% of over 400 respondents were PWC users (NPS
<br />2002d). Based on ranger observation, most PWC users are from Colorado. There has been an increase of
<br />at least 10% in visitors from the Front Range in the last three years. This increase is likely a result of
<br />increasing visitation and more stringent regulations in Front Range water recreation areas. Gunnison
<br />County also has a large number of summer residents from other states that visit the recreation area (NPS
<br />2002c). Based on 2001 Colorado Division of Wildlife creel data, an estimated 14,635 boats used Blue
<br />Mesa Reservoir between May and September.
<br />PWC Use Areas
<br />Curecanti National Recreation Area includes Blue Mesa Reservoir, which was created with the
<br />completion of the Blue Mesa Dam. Blue Mesa Reservoir is comprised of three basins: Sapinero, Cebolla,
<br />and Iola as well as various arms. The basins are often referred to as the main body of the reservoir to
<br />distinguish activities there from activities in the arms.
<br />The General Management Plan (NPS 1997) and Superintendent's Compendium (NPS 2002g) allowed
<br />personal watercraft and other watercraft to operate on the main body of the Blue Mesa Reservoir and lake
<br />arms with speed and zone restrictions.
<br />Most flat -wake speed violations, involving personal watercraft as well as other types of motorized
<br />vessels, occur in the Elk Creek Marina, the Soap Creek Ann and at Dry Creek. Personal watercraft
<br />generally do not operate in flat -wake speed areas at the end of lake arms because the arms are narrow in
<br />width. On the main body of the reservoir, personal watercraft are widely distributed. In addition to the
<br />main body, high -use areas include the Iola Basin and Colorado State Highway 149 (Highway 149) areas.
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