Date: 06/04/2008

We have just finished the Memorial Day Weekend and look forward to the beginning of another great season of water based recreation at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, also known as Lake Powell. With the beginning of the summer season, the Park Service at Lake Powell has issued two important News Releases. The first is about the Expansion of Zebra Mussel Prevention Program and the second is "Tips for a safe visit to Lake Powell this summer." These two releases are posted below. Please review them and get ready for a great summer at Lake Powell.

Special Note: The Castle Rock Cut should be open by late June. Watch the BlueRibbon website of www.sharetrails.org and click on the PWC button for updates on the Castle Rock Cut opening.

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Glen Canyon Announces Further Expansion of the Zebra Mussel Prevention Program

PAGE, AZ (May 15)--Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA) announced today further expansion of the program to prevent zebra or quagga mussels from becoming established in Lake Powell. Currently, Lake Powell and the upper Colorado River are believed to be free of zebra and quagga mussels. However, these invasive mussels pose a major threat to Lake Powell if they are introduced.

Highlights of the expanded Zebra Mussel Prevention Program include:

• All visitors bringing boats into Glen Canyon NRA are required to display a certificate through their vehicle windshields stating their boat is free of zebra or quagga mussels.


• Visitors bringing boats into the recreation area will continue to be asked a series of questions at entrance stations to determine whether or not their boats may be harboring mussels. If a boat is determined to be a zebra mussel threat, a mandatory decontamination cleaning will be required. Visitors will be required to proceed directly to the decontamination station.


• To save time when a visitor arrives at Glen Canyon, visitors may self certify that their boats are zebra and quagga mussel free and display their required dashboard certificate by downloading self certification packets from Glen Canyon's homepage at www.nps.gov/glca

Failure to abide by these regulations is in violation of 36 Code of Federal Regulations 1.5(f). Two citations were recently issued for noncompliance with the Zebra Mussel Prevention Program. One of those citations was issued to a visitor after failure to get a decontamination wash for his vessel which had recently been in infested Lake Pleasant.

Such violations are punishable by up to six months in jail and a $5,000.00 fine.

Glen Canyon NRA is coordinating efforts with a variety of partners to prevent invasive mussels in Lake Powell. These partners include ARAMARK/Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas, Antelope Point Marina, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The recreation area seeks to expand coordination with additional partners this summer in order to enhance prevention efforts.

www.nps.gov/glca

Marianne Karraker
Permits Coordinator
Public Information Officer
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
P.O. Box 1507, 691 Scenic View Drive
Page, Arizona 86040
phone 928-608-6325 fax 928-608-6259

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Be Safe on Lake Powell this Summer!

PAGE, AZ (May 23)--Memorial Day marks the start of another busy summer season at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and the National Park Service is reminding visitors to keep safety in mind while visiting the park.

Important tips for a safe visit to Glen Canyon and Lake Powell include:

• Wear a life jacket. Many drownings have been prevented because of a simple life jacket. Children age 12 and under are required to always wear a life jacket while a boat is underway.


• Watch your kids. In the blink of an eye, children can wander off, leading to tragedy.


• The weather can be so unpredictable; hot and sunny one day, cold and windy the next. Always be prepared for the extremes with extra clothing, food, and water.


• Watch out for summer thunderstorms. If you are on Lake Powell when thunderstorms are in the area, get somewhere safe onshore. Flash floods can happen at any time during monsoon season. Choose your campsite so you are not in a flash flood area.


• Always designate a driver whether you are in a vehicle or on the boat. National Park Service regulations make boating under the influence just like driving under the influence.


• Remember the dangers of carbon monoxide. Don't swim or linger anywhere near your boat's exhaust.


• Cliff jumping is deadly and is strictly prohibited at Glen Canyon.


• Consider starting each day with a safety minute; talk with your companions about what you'll be doing and discuss the potential safety hazards. Plan ahead so you're prepared in case of emergency.

 

Have a great holiday weekend but be smart out there. Live to play another
day--be safe!

www.nps.gov/glca

Marianne Karraker
Permits Coordinator
Public Information Officer
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
P.O. Box 1507, 691 Scenic View Drive
Page, Arizona 86040
phone 928-608-6325 fax 928-608-6259