Plain Text Law

Chapter 16. Special Uses Areas

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Regulation .01 Controlled Water Ski Areas.Copy Citation

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A.
The Department may designate a controlled water ski area within the waters of the State.
B.
The controlled water ski area may contain ski slalom course(s) that must meet the ski slalom requirements set by the American Water Ski Association (AWSA).
C.
Permits and use restrictions:
(1)
A valid U.S. Army Corps permit for the area shall be obtained and be on file with the U.S. Army Corps and Maryland DNR.
(a)
The U.S. Army Corps permit holder shall have the responsibility to mark the course in accordance with their U.S. Army Corps permit.
(b)
The U.S. Army Corps permit holder has the responsibility to maintain U.S. Coast Guard approval for all markings on the course.
(2)
A controlled water ski course may be used for practice. Other uses may require separate approval from the federal, State, or local agencies.
(3)
The course shall only be used as a ski slalom course by vessels which display a DNR Ski Sticker as described in 08.04.16.02.
(4)
A person shall not operate or give permission to operate a vessel for the purpose of towing a water skier on the slalom ski course on Saturdays, Sundays and State Holidays between 12 noon and sunset during the months of June, July or August.
(5)
A person may not place or give permission to place a mooring buoy near the ski slalom course when the arc of the swing is closer than 200 feet to the ski slalom course as approved location in the U.S. Army Corps permit.
(6)
Only vessels displaying the DNR Ski Sticker and actively participating in water skiing on the controlled water ski course may exceed the regulated speed limit for the area.
(7)
A person may not operate or give permission to operate a vessel across or within the permitted course, when the course is in use by a vessel which displays the required sticker and is towing a skier or assisting a fallen skier on the course.
D.
A violation of the U.S. Army Corps permit or these regulations may result in enforcement of speed limit regulations and removal of the course by the State.

Regulation .02 DNR Ski Sticker.Copy Citation

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A.
The Department may issue DNR Ski Stickers for qualified controlled ski vessels.
B.
DNR Ski Stickers are valid for the life of the controlled ski vessel as long as the vessel is not sold or modified.
C.
Designated Agents.
(1)
The Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources may designate qualified individuals who may request DNR Ski Stickers.
(2)
Qualified individuals may include DNR staff, Controlled Ski Course Army Corps permit holders, Maryland Water Ski Club members, or other qualified individuals.
(3)
The designee shall be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the request and shall affix the sticker to the vessel.
D.
A DNR Ski Sticker may be issued to vessels that have previously passed Maryland DNR water ski vessel inspections and are on file with the Department.
E.
Vessel owners may request a DNR Ski Sticker if they have a registered vessel listed below:
F.
The Department may revoke the DNR Ski Sticker for a violation of this regulation.

Regulation .03 Public Bathing Beaches.Copy Citation

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A.
Swim Beach Areas may be approved by the Department of Natural Resources only if the area:
(1)
Meets the requirements for Public Bathing Beach areas under COMAR 26.08.09; and
(2)
Is located within an approved Public Bathing Beach area as defined under COMAR 26.08.09.
B.
Approved Swim Beach Areas Rules.
(1)
A person may not operate or give permission to operate a vessel of any kind within a marked Swim Beach Area, except authorized emergency and rescue vessels.
(2)
A person may not place or give permission to place a mooring buoy or other vessel anchoring device inside a marked Swim Beach Area.
(3)
Swim Beach Area Markings.
(a)
The area to be enforced by a Swim Beach shall be marked with U.S. Coast Guard permitted boat exclusion area markers.
(b)
Swim Beach Areas owned or operated by the State or other public entity may be marked by the State.
(c)
Swim Beach Areas operated by other entities may not be marked by the State.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§8-703 and 8-704, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: March 28, 2016 (43:6 Md. R. 405)
History: Regulation .02E amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1087)