News Release: Modified boat horsepower rule to be implemented in 2024
https://www.nps.gov/.../modified-boat-horsepower-rule-to...
The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a final rule on motorboat horsepower (HP) within Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR).
Changes to motorboat rules were originally proposed in the 2015 General Management Plan (GMP), which highlighted the need to legalize the use of 60/40 HP motors using jet propulsion. The GMP also proposed a 150 HP limit south of Big Spring on the Current River and seasonal non-motorized zones during “peak season” on the upper stretches of both rivers, when lower water levels make navigation more difficult.
After evaluating public feedback on the proposed rule, the NPS prepared a final rule on motorboat horsepower and will soon implement changes within ONSR. These changes create the seasonal non-motorized zones, legalize the use of outboard 60/40 HP motors, and establish a 150 HP limit between the southern end of the Van Buren gap and the park’s southern boundary. These changes will go into effect on January 11, 2024.
For further details, handy reference guides, and links to supporting documentation, visit our new Horsepower Limits page: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/horsepower-limits.htm