Boating & Skiing Regulations

All persons keeping, maintaining, operating, or riding in private or rented vessels do so entirely at their own risk.

Fishing Tournaments may be hosted at Banner Creek Reservoir.

The fee for a fishing tournament is based upon the number of boats

1 to10 Boats $50
11to 20 Boats $75
21 to 30 Boats $100

The following regulations apply to the operation of any vessel for private or public use upon the Reservoir.

3.10 Decals & License Certificates

It shall be unlawful to operate any vessel on the Reservoir for which boat permits are required unless a valid permit decal is displayed at the top of the gunwale nearest the hull of the licensed vessel. The Banner Creek Reservoir daily permit shall be kept in possession of the operator. Annual decals must be displayed and shall be made available at all times for inspection by any law enforcement officer of competent jurisdiction or the Reservoir Supervisor or designated representative. Lost or damaged decals must be replaced.

3.20 Transferring Ownership of Licensed Vessel

If a permit holder transfers ownership of the vessel, the permit decals, and the permit become void at the time of transfer. The new owner must make an application for a permit and new permit decals prior to operating the vessel on the Reservoir.

3.30 Age for Vessel Operators

It shall be unlawful for any person sixteen years of age or less to operate any vessel except when said person is accompanied by an adult eighteen years or older.

3.40 Life Jackets Required

Each vessel shall have aboard one Coast Guard-approved life jacket or preserver per passenger.

It shall be unlawful for any person twelve years of age or less or for any person to give permission to a person of such age to ride in any vessel at any time while in operation unless said person is wearing a personal flotation device of appropriate size in good and serviceable condition. The State of Kansas regarding life jackets makes additional requirements and these laws must also be obeyed.

3.50 Prohibited & Restricted Operation

It shall be unlawful to operate any vessel, personal watercraft, or motorboat within the marker buoys.
Boating and skiing beyond marker buoys designated for fishing only are strictly prohibited; except such boating as is necessary for access to this area and then only at a reduced speed that does not create a wake.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vessel within seventy-five feet of the shoreline except at no-wake speed, or stopped for fishing, or approach within seventy-five feet of any craft when passing. All vessels should reduce speed to no wake within a hundred (100) foot radius when approaching or departing from any dock or boat launching area.
Skiing is restricted to areas indicated by the marker. All skiing traffic must travel in a counterclockwise direction.
It shall be unlawful for any vessel to cut across a skiing area or to travel against the traffic flow of vessels engaged in skiing when such are operating in accordance with the regulation in designated skiing areas.
Skiing is prohibited between sunset and sunrise. Towropes shall not exceed one hundred feet in length. It shall be unlawful to make skiing starts from boat docks, ramps, or the shoreline unless otherwise specified. No person shall engage in water skiing unless they have read these rules.
No boating allowed between sunset and sunrise.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a vessel in a careless or reckless manner such as to cause endangerment of life or limb either to himself/herself or to any other person.
Any vessel left unattended is done so at its own risk.

3.60 Maximum Speed Restriction

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motorboat at any speed in excess of forty-five miles per hour as measured by any land traffic radar device or another acceptable method.

3.70 Law Enforcement Officer's Rights & Responsibilities

Any Reservoir Supervisor or designated representative, or any law enforcement officer of competent jurisdiction operating any vessel when responding to an emergency call or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law may exercise the privileges set forth in this rule, but subject to the conditions herein stated.

Any Reservoir Supervisor or designated representative, or law enforcement officer of competent jurisdiction may:

Moor and stop any vessel irrespective of the provisions of this ordinance.
Exceed the maximum speed limit so long as such operation does not endanger life or property.
Disregard the provision of this ordinance governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions; and
Proceed past the shoreline, vessels, docks, or other objects or persons at any distance or speed, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.

The foregoing provisions shall not relieve any Reservoir official or law enforcement officer of competent jurisdiction from the duty to navigate with due regard for the safety of all persons.