Jet Skis Popular, But Polluting
W H I S K E Y T O W N N A T I O N A L <br>R E C R E A T I O N A R E A, Calif., May 27 -- For the first time in years, this pristine alpine lake tucked beneath Mount Shasta in Northern California has gone through a remarkable transformation. It is quiet, serene and pollution-free.
Something has changed.
"People just got tired of Jet Skis and they wanted them off the lake," said Jim Milestone, superintendent of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. "So our decision was to prohibit them from here."
Whiskeytown is one of 21 national parks in the process of banning personal watercraft, more commonly known as "Jet Skis," after a particular brand. A conflict between beachgoers, sailboaters and others visiting the 3,200-acre lake had been growing in recent years, and the National Park Service decided enough was enough.
Those visiting the tranquil spot are ecstatic.
"I have a 3-year-old and I now love coming here," said a woman floating on an air mattress in the unusually warm waters. "You don't have to worry about the Jet Skis. It's safe, it's quiet, it's peaceful. It's a great place to relax."
Those who ride the fast and highly maneuverable watercraft are not too upset that they've been banned. A few miles up Interstate 5, Lake Shasta, which is 10 times larger than Whiskeytown, still welcomes Jet Skiers.
"We don't see any conflicts with those on personal watercraft," said Kristy Cottini, the district Forest Service ranger in charge at Lake Shasta.
But she gently scolds a couple of 16-year-olds for violating the "100-foot rule."
"You have to be at least 100 feet from the shore," she yelled out.
"And please be careful," she added.
Safety Training Imperative
Safety is another issue that has bedeviled the personal watercraft industry. On most lakes, there is no training required for Jet Skiing and riders as young as 6 years old race and maneuver at speeds of up to 50 mph.
Sgt. Mark Jenkins of the Shasta County Sheriff's Office says about 25 percent of the accidents on the lakes are Jet Ski-related.
"Last year we had a little girl almost lose her life in a Jet Ski accident," he said. "The year before that, a man lost his leg because of a Jet Ski."
