Special Local Regulation; Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City, AZ
The Coast Guard is temporarily restricting part of Lake Havasu in AZ on Oct 25, 2026 for the Lake Havasu Witch Paddle event to keep boaters and participants safe.
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Plain English
The Coast Guard is temporarily restricting part of Lake Havasu in AZ on Oct 25, 2026 for the Lake Havasu Witch Paddle event to keep boaters and participants safe.
Why it matters
The Coast Guard is creating a temporary special local regulation that closes a portion of Lake Havasu near Lake Havasu City, Arizona to unauthorized vessels and persons on October 25, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This action is intended to protect public safety during the 2026 Lake Havasu Witch Paddle event. Boaters and recreationists in the area will need authorization from the Captain of the Port San Diego to enter the regulated zone during that window.
Who it affects
- Homeland Security Department
- Coast Guard
What happens next
Current
Signed
Published Oct 16, 2026.
Next
Takes effect Oct 25, 2026
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- ProposedPublished Oct 16, 2026
- SignedStatus: Signed · Published Oct 16, 2026
- In effectEffective Oct 25, 2026
- ChallengedNo challenge record stored beyond status. See the Federal Register source for litigation history.
- ClosedLast effective date Oct 25, 2026
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Homeland Security Department
Signed
Effective Oct 25, 2026
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Deeper context
Long-form analysis, legal background, and source material
Read analysisAnalysis · Official text · Sage perspective
DEEPER READ
This regulatory action establishes a temporary special local regulation (SLR) on specific navigable waters of Lake Havasu in Arizona. The regulation is time-limited, applying only on October 25, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time. Its purpose is to create a safety perimeter around the Lake Havasu Witch Paddle event, a recreational paddling activity that draws participants onto the lake and could create hazardous interactions with other vessel traffic. The legal basis for this action comes from the Coast Guard's broad authority under federal law to establish safety zones and special local regulations on navigable waters of the United States. The Homeland Security Department, through the Coast Guard, routinely issues these types of temporary rules for sporting events, races, festivals, and other gatherings near or on waterways. The Captain of the Port San Diego holds the authority to enforce this regulation and may grant exceptions on a case-by-case basis. The primary individuals affected are recreational boaters, personal watercraft operators, and other vessel operators who regularly use Lake Havasu on or near the date of the event. Event participants in the Witch Paddle itself are presumably among those who may receive authorization to be in the regulated area. Commercial operators and local marinas near the affected stretch of the lake may also need to adjust operations or routing for the duration of the restriction. From an implementation standpoint, this regulation is narrow in scope and short in duration. It applies for a single six-hour window and is geographically limited to certain navigable waters near Lake Havasu City. The Coast Guard typically publishes notice of such regulations in advance through the Federal Register and local notices to mariners, giving affected parties reasonable time to plan accordingly. Enforcement is handled by on-water Coast Guard personnel or designated representatives during the event.
AS PUBLISHED
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of Lake Havasu. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Lake Havasu City, AZ during the 2026 Lake Havasu Witch Paddle event beginning at 8 a.m. on October 25, 2026, and ending the evening of October 25, 2026, at 2 p.m. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port San Diego or their designated representative.
THE SAGE'S PERSPECTIVE
AI analysis
This is a routine, narrowly scoped temporary regulation used frequently by the Coast Guard to manage vessel traffic around public events on navigable waterways. It affects only a small geographic area for a single six-hour period and carries no broader policy implications. Boaters planning to use that section of Lake Havasu on October 25, 2026 should review the specific regulated boundaries once published and contact the Captain of the Port San Diego if they need access authorization.
Source: official record
Sources
- Federal Register entryPrimary record
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