Jet Skis Banned

North Cascades National Park

The water is warming in the lakes and reservoirs of North Cascades National Park, but the atmosphere has turned cool toward jet skis.

Park superintendent Bill Paleck announced last month that personal watercraft would be prohibited on park waters including Ross Lake, Diablo Lake, Gorge Lake and a portion of the Skagit River.

Jet skis also are prohibited on the northernmost four miles of Lake Chelan within the national recreation area.

“So far, there has been very little use of personal watercraft in the park complex,” Paleck said. “To protect wildlife, water quality, public safety and people’s opportunity to hear natural sounds in the park, it’s important for us to act before this type of use increases.”