Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 25 - CULTURAL RESOURCES
Part IX - Office of State Parks
Chapter 3 - General Provisions
Section IX-307 - Watercraft

A. Federal, state, and local laws, rules and ordinances related to the use of watercraft shall be enforced. All watercraft located on or adjacent to any site must be operated in a careful and reasonable manner, and such operation is subject to the rules of safety imposed by the laws of Louisiana and by the United States Coast Guard. Boaters must abide by posted park operational hours.

B. Every owner and operator of a motor boat, vessel or other water craft shall comply with all flotation device requirements prescribed by state and federal law.

C. Watercraft shall be launched only from designated boat ramps or launching areas within a site.

D. A person renting a watercraft must return the watercraft to the original docking location after use, and secure the boat from unauthorized use.

E. No watercraft may be operated in a designated swimming area or in any other area designated as a non-boating area by signs or any area otherwise restricted from boat operation or docking.

F. Watercraft left docked and unattended must be properly secured in designated areas only. The OSP will not be responsible for any loss, theft or damage to watercraft, equipment, personal property or supplies left unattended.

G. Watercraft will be considered abandoned if left unattended for more than seven consecutive days unless the proper permit or advanced written approval is granted by the site manager.

H. Commercial boats (defined as any watercraft capable of carrying five or more persons for hire; any watercraft having a water displacement of five tons or more, whatever the length; or any watercraft from which commercial activities are conducted, e.g., shrimping, crabbing, fishing, etc.) are prohibited from using any OSP facility without the written consent of the assistant secretary. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, loading or unloading of materials, boarding of persons, operating power equipment and non-emergency repair work.

I. Water bodies or portions thereof adjacent to boat ramps, docks, swimming areas, boathouses, cabins, picnic pavilions, or other facilities shall be designated "no wake areas ." Signs and/or buoys will mark the areas so designated. Violations of "no wake areas" shall be subject to citations.

J. Water skiing and related activities such as wake boarding, knee boarding, tubing, and banana rides are permitted only in designated areas, and at the participants own risk.

K. Personal watercrafts (defined as any one or more person jet propelled craft such as a Jet Ski or Sea-Doo) are prohibited at Poverty Point Reservoir, Chicot Lake, Hodges Gardens Lake and in any portion of any site posted as a "no ski zone."