Picture a recreation-based summer vacation location that combines strikingly beautiful red-rock canyons similar to what you’d see in the Grand Canyon with boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, and water-skiing. Utah’s Lake Powell is just such a place, and that is why it is one of the most popular recreation areas in the country. If you are a boating enthusiast, you have no doubt heard of the zebra mussel and the problems that this rapidly spreading invasive species has been responsible for in the Great Lakes area and beyond. Lake Powell authorities are very careful in examining all incoming craft to avoid an infestation, but just to be safe — and to avoid the hassle — many visitors are taking advantage of the boat rental options available at the lake. No locals or visitors want to see a Lake Powell zebra mussel invasion.
Lake Powell was formed by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, and is the second largest man-made lake in the US. Due to its vast size and the innumerable nooks and crannies, the lake gives boating visitors the opportunity for an isolated spot despite its enormous popularity and the increasing numbers of visitors.
The local climate at the Utah-Arizona border where Lake Powell is located is warm, dry, and desert-like, making it an ideal spot for sun-and-water play. Many visitors rent houseboats, find a small side canyon of their own, and spend their whole time on the lake in that one area swimming, hiking, fishing, and relaxing to their hearts’ content. Others prefer to enjoy more of the Lake, so will rent equipment for fishing one day, while water skiing with friends and family the next.
So far, one of the most rigorous inspection policies in the country has been responsible for keeping this recreational wonderland free of the intrepid zebra mussel. These creatures were unintentionally brought in from Europe in the late 1980s infesting the Great Lakes and dispersing to points beyond by hitching a ride on commercial and recreational boats. These pests are only about the size of a fingernail, but tend to grow in clumps that overtake ecosystems, clog pipes, and generally become anywhere from an annoyance to a truly serious threat to native species.
Since Lake Powell rental boats have not been in infected waters, you can be assured that you are not helping to continue the spread of this insipid pest. Another benefit to renting a boat on the lake is that you need not go through the hassle of towing your own boat through the two-lane, winding canyon roads that lead to the lake -and once you arrive, waiting in a long line to get your boat inspected before you can launch it. The best way to enjoy both the lake and peace of mind is by renting one of the great recreational boats that is available for use on site.
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When vacationing at Lake Powell, check out boat rentals on Lake Powell highly recommended by author Stephen Daniels. They are conveniently located in the heart of the beautiful red-rock canyons with rental boats and equipment for every type of water sport you can imagine.
Tags : Sports