Patrolling the Pond. The Madness of March and PWC Rules
By Mike Miller, VP Lake Lotawana Association
The Madness of March is giving way to April, where showers will likely give way to May Flowers. We are closing out a record-setting March in 2026, with temps ranging from a frigid 11 degrees to over 92 degrees in just a week! I typically leave our pontoon wrapped up for the winter until April. Not this year. March 20th was the first day out on the water. First day of spring, and It was 88 degrees! While air temperatures have had wild swings, the lake’s water temperatures are consistently on the rise, pushing 60 at the time of this writing. I am really enjoying the Lotawana weather widget sponsored by this great publication. Thanks, Noel! Now down to business.
Last year, just before the 4th of July Holiday, I watched an underage, unfamiliar, non-resident fly down the cove at about 25mph in a no-wake zone. Somebody thought it was ok to let them ride their PWC. Thankfully, there wasn’t anyone in the water. If by chance there had been, it would have been a very dangerous situation.
It’s never too early to cover the rules. This week’s topic? PWC Rules and Regulations (not including Holiday Rules).
Rules for PWCs (You can find these on p. 18 of the Lake Lotawana Rules and Regulations). Here are the key rules you will want your entire family to memorize:
- You MUST obey all the rules and regulations related to watercraft, including ownership rules.
- Any operator of a PWC MUST BE 16 years old….but don’t stop here.
- If you are between 16 and 17, you MUST take the Missouri Water Patrol Water Safety Class before you are allowed to operate a PWC on the lake.
- Every rider is required to use a US Water Safety-approved personal flotation device types I,II,III, and IV.
- No weaving through other traffic or jumping wakes.
- You must be at no wake speed when within 50 ft of another watercraft.
- Don’t be a nuisance on the water.
- No towing skiers or dragging anyone behind your PWC. Towing another vessel is allowed.
- There are SPECIAL Holiday Rules for PWCs that apply the entire weekend of the three major summer holidays: Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. Stay tuned for more details on these rules in an upcoming issue.
Essentially, if you allow anyone on your PWC who should not be on it (too young, a guest alone, etc.), you are risking a worse loss than Duke on a last-minute buzzer beater! Loss of your lake privileges. Worth it? No. Worth everyone else’s safety? No. You are not a killjoy if you say no. You are not a rebel if you say yes. And just because the grandkids are coming in from out of town and they won’t be back until next year is no excuse for putting the rest of the lake at risk. I hate to be so cliché, but JUST SAY NO!
I like to try to keep this column light and fun. This is one topic that challenges that tone. I promise the next issue will be a little lighter. But the message is simple: Don’t let people ride your PWCs that shouldn’t ride them. PWCs are really fun and can be an enjoyable part of summer when used correctly. This won’t be the last you hear about PWCs this season, as they also hold a special slot in the Holiday Weekend Rules Menu, which I will cover sometime in April and May. If we can all get on the same page with the rules with PWCs, we can keep everyone safe and the Madness of March in March. Until next time, see you on the pond!
SAFER SEVEN this week is similar to the last issue. If you can identify FIVE of the top TEN water violations in 2025, you will be eligible for a drawing for TWO $25 food certificates to one of Lotawana’s finest eateries. Safer Seven reserves the right to select the eatery and gift certificate. Email your responses to vp@lakelotawana.net