Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 26, 2024
Title 43 - Public Lands: Interior last revised: Nov 22, 2024
§ 423.20 - General rules.
(a) You must obey all applicable Federal, State, and local laws whenever you are at or on any Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies.
(b) You must comply with all provisions of this subpart C whenever you are at or on any Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies, except as specifically provided by:
(1) A permit issued by an authorized official under subpart D of this part 423;
(2) A contract with Reclamation or agency managing Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies;
(3) The rules established by an authorized official in a special use area under subpart E of this part 423; or
(4) A right-of-use issued under 43 CFR part 429.
§ 423.21 - Responsibilities.
(a) You are responsible for finding, being aware of, and obeying all applicable laws and regulations, as well as notices and postings of closed and special use areas established by an authorized official under subpart B and subpart E of this part 423.
(b) You are responsible for the use of any device, vehicle, vessel, or aircraft you own, lease, or operate on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies. You may be issued a citation for a violation of regulations, including non-compliance with limitations, restrictions, closures, or special use areas applicable to the use of any device, vehicle, vessel, or aircraft as provided in this part as the owner, lessee, or operator.
(c) You are responsible for the use and treatment of Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies, and the cultural resources, wildlife, and other natural resources located thereon, by you and those for whom you are legally responsible. This presumption is sufficient to issue a citation to you for violation of provisions of these regulations by you or by those for whom you are legally responsible.
(d) The regulations governing permits, other use authorizations, and fees on Reclamation lands that are found in subpart D of this part 423 apply to your use of Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies.
(e) You must furnish identification information upon request by a law enforcement officer.
(f) You must pay applicable fees established by Federal, State, or local government recreation management entities, or contracted vendors for activities on Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies such as, but not limited to, camping, boating, parking, day-use, or visitor tours.
[73 FR 75349, Dec. 11, 2008, as amended at 88 FR 80991, Nov. 21, 2023]
§ 423.22 - Interference with agency functions and disorderly conduct.
(a) You must not assault, threaten, disturb, resist, intimidate, impede, or interfere with any employee or agent of Federal, State, or local government engaged in an official duty.
(b) You must comply with any lawful order of an authorized government employee or agent for the purpose of maintaining order and controlling public access and movement during law enforcement actions and emergency or safety-related operations.
(c) You must not knowingly give a false report or other false information to an authorized government employee or agent.
(d) You must not interfere with, impede, or disrupt the authorized use of Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies or impair the safety of any person.
(e) The following acts constitute disorderly conduct and are prohibited:
(1) Fighting, or threatening or violent behavior;
(2) Language, utterance, gesture, display, or act that is obscene, physically threatening or menacing, or that is likely to inflict injury or incite an immediate breach of the peace;
(3) Unreasonable noise, considering the nature and purpose of the person's conduct, location, time of day or night, and other factors that would govern the conduct of a reasonably prudent person under the circumstances;
(4) Creating or maintaining a hazardous or physically offensive condition; or
(5) Any other act or activity that may cause or create public alarm, nuisance, or bodily harm.
§ 423.23 - Abandonment and impoundment of personal property.
(a) You must not abandon personal property of any kind in or on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies.
(b) You must not store or leave unattended personal property of any kind.
(1) Unattended personal property is presumed to be abandoned:
(i) After a period of 24 hours;
(ii) At any time after a posted closure takes effect under subpart B of this part 423; or
(iii) At any time for reasons of security, public safety, or resource protection.
(2) If personal property is presumed abandoned, an authorized official may impound it, store it, and assess a reasonable impoundment fee.
(3) The impoundment fee must be paid before the authorized official will return the impounded property to you.
(c) An authorized official may impound or destroy unattended personal property at any time if it:
(1) Interferes with safety, operation, or management of Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies; or
(2) Presents a threat to persons or Reclamation project resources.
(d) An authorized official may dispose of abandoned personal property in accordance with the procedures contained in title 41 CFR and applicable Reclamation and Department of the Interior policy.
§ 423.24 - Trespassing.
You must not trespass on Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies. Trespass includes any of the following acts:
(a) Unauthorized possession or occupancy of Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies;
(b) Personal entry, presence, or occupancy on or in any portion or area of Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies that have been closed to public use pursuant to subpart B of this part 423;
(c) Unauthorized extraction or disturbance of natural or cultural resources located on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies;
(d) Unauthorized conduct of commercial activities on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies;
(e) Holding unauthorized public gatherings on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies; or
(f) Unauthorized dumping or abandonment of personal property on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies.
§ 423.25 - Vandalism, tampering, and theft.
(a) You must not tamper or attempt to tamper with, move, manipulate, operate, adjust, or set in motion property not under your lawful control or possession including, but not limited to, vehicles, equipment, controls, recreational facilities, and devices.
(b) You must not destroy, injure, deface, damage, or unlawfully remove property not under your lawful control or possession.
(c) You must not drop, place, throw, or roll rocks or other items inside, into, down, or from, dams, spillways, dikes, or other structures and facilities.
§ 423.26 - Public events and gatherings.
You must not conduct public assemblies, meetings, gatherings, demonstrations, parades, and other events without a permit issued pursuant to subpart D of this part 423. Public gatherings that involve the possession or occupancy of Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies are governed by 43 CFR part 429.
§ 423.27 - Advertising and public solicitation.
(a) You must not engage in advertising or solicitation on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies except as allowed under valid contract with Reclamation, or as allowed by a permit issued pursuant to subpart D of this part.
(b) It is prohibited to sell or rent private goods, including personal property, or represent others in the selling or renting of personal property, on Reclamation property unless specifically authorized under permit issued pursuant to subpart D of this part.
[88 FR 80991, Nov. 21, 2023]
§ 423.28 - Memorials and reburials.
(a) Memorials. You must not bury, deposit, or scatter human remains (except as noted in paragraph (b) of this section), or place memorials, markers, vases, or plaques on or in Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies. See § 423.35 for information on animal remains.
(b) Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) reburials. You must not rebury human remains on or in Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies unless permitted under subpart D of this part. An Indian Tribe official or the lineal descendants of federally recognized Tribes may apply for a permit issued pursuant to subpart D of this part to rebury NAGPRA (25 U.S.C. 3001-3013) human remains or cultural items (funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony) on or in Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies.
[88 FR 80991, Nov. 21, 2023]
§ 423.29 - Natural and cultural resources.
(a) You must not destroy, injure, deface, remove, search for, disturb, or alter natural resources or cultural resources, including abandoned buildings or structures, on or in Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies except in accordance with § 423.29(g) and other applicable Federal, State, and local laws.
(b) You must not introduce wildlife, fish, or plants, including their reproductive bodies, into Reclamation lands and waterbodies.
(c) You must not drop, place, throw, or roll rocks or other items inside, into, at, or down, caves, caverns, valleys, canyons, mountainsides, thermal features, or other natural formations.
(d) You may bring firewood to or gather dead wood on Reclamation lands for fires as allowed under § 423.31. You must not damage or remove any live tree or part thereof except with proper authorization under 43 CFR part 429.
(e) You must not walk on, climb, enter, ascend, descend, or traverse cultural resources on Reclamation lands, including monuments or statues, except as specifically allowed in special use areas designated by an authorized official under subpart E of this part 423.
(f) You must not possess a metal detector or other geophysical discovery device, or use a metal detector or other geophysical discovery techniques to locate or recover subsurface objects or features on Reclamation lands, except:
(1) When transporting, but not using, a metal detector or other geophysical discovery device in a vehicle on a public road as allowed under applicable Federal, State, and local law; or
(2) As allowed by a permit issued pursuant to subpart D of this part 423.
(g) You may engage in renewable natural resource gathering activities such as picking berries and mushrooms, collecting antlers, and other similar activities as regulated by this part 423 and other applicable Federal, State, and local laws.
§ 423.30 - Weapons, firearms, explosives, and fireworks.
(a) You may possess firearms, ammunition, bows and arrows, crossbows, or other projectile firing devices on Reclamation lands and waterbodies, provided the firearm, ammunition, or other projectile firing device is stowed, transported, and/or carried in compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local law, with the following exceptions:
(1) You must not have a weapon in your possession when at or in a Reclamation facility.
(2) You must comply with any prohibitions or regulations applicable to weapons in a special use area established by an authorized official under subpart E of this part 423.
(b) You must not discharge or shoot a weapon unless you are:
(1) Using a firearm or other projectile firing device lawfully for hunting or fishing as allowed under § 423.32, or at an authorized shooting or archery range; and
(2) In compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local law.
(c) You must not use or possess explosives, or fireworks or pyrotechnics of any type, except as allowed by a permit issued pursuant to subpart D of this part 423, or in special use areas so designated by an authorized official under subpart E of this part 423.
(d) In recreation facilities or areas operated through contracts or other agreements by a managing recreation partner agency from another Federal, State, local, or Tribal governmental entity, such as a State park, the laws, ordinances, and regulations of those partner agencies pertaining to possession and use of firearms shall be enforced by those partner agencies. However, Reclamation retains the authority to take necessary actions to safeguard the security and safety of the public and such Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies.
[73 FR 75349, Dec. 11, 2008, as amended at 88 FR 80991, Nov. 21, 2023]
§ 423.31 - Fires and flammable material.
(a) You must not leave a fire unattended, and it must be completely extinguished before your departure.
(b) You must not improperly dispose of lighted smoking materials, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, matches, or other burning material.
(c) You must not burn materials that produce toxic fumes, including, but not limited to, tires, plastic, flotation materials, or treated wood products.
(d) You must not transport gasoline and other fuels in containers not designed for that purpose.
(e) You must comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local fire orders, restrictions, or permit requirements.
§ 423.32 - Hunting, fishing, and trapping.
(a) You may hunt, fish, and trap in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws, and subject to the restrictions of § 423.30, in areas where both of the following conditions are met:
(1) The area is not closed to public use under subpart B of this part 423; and
(2) The area has not been otherwise designated by an authorized official in a special use area under subpart E of this part 423.
(b) You must comply with any additional restrictions pertaining to hunting, fishing, and trapping established by an authorized official in a special use area under subpart E of this part 423.
§ 423.33 - Camping.
(a) You may camp on Reclamation lands, except that you must comply with any restrictions, conditions, limitations, or prohibitions on camping established by an authorized official in a special use area under subpart E of this part 423.
(b) Camping stay limits are as follows:
(1) You must not camp on Reclamation lands at any single Reclamation recreation facility such as a campground for more than 14 days during any period of 30 consecutive days, except as allowed by permit issued under subpart D of this part.
(2) You must not camp in a single location on Reclamation lands, including undeveloped project lands or open range for more than 14 days during any period of 30 consecutive days, and must move at least 10 miles after each 14-day period is reached, except as allowed by permit issued under subpart D of this part.
(c) You must not attempt to reserve a campsite for future use by placing equipment or other items on the campsite, or by personal appearance, without camping on and paying the required fees for that campsite daily.
(d) You must not camp on or place any equipment at a campsite that is posted or otherwise marked as “reserved” or “closed” by an authorized official without a valid reservation for that campsite, except as allowed by a permit issued under subpart D of this part 423.
(e) You must not dig in or level any ground, or erect any structure other than a tent, in a designated campground.
(f) Where recreation facilities or other areas of Reclamation lands and waterbodies are operated through a contract or other agreement by a managing recreation partner of another Federal, State, local, or Tribal governmental entity, such as a State park, the laws, ordinances, and regulations of those partner agencies pertaining to camping shall be enforced by those partner agencies. However, Reclamation retains the authority to take necessary actions to safeguard the security and safety of the public and such Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies.
[73 FR 75349, Dec. 11, 2008, as amended at 88 FR 80991, Nov. 21, 2023]
§ 423.34 - Sanitation.
(a) You must not bring or improperly dispose of refuse on Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies. Both the owner and the person bringing or disposing refuse may be issued a citation for violating this provision.
(b) Campers, picnickers, and all other persons using Reclamation lands must keep their sites free of trash and litter during the period of occupancy and must remove all personal equipment and clean their sites before departure.
(c) You must not place or construct a toilet or latrine such that its lowest point is lower than the high water mark of any Reclamation waterbody, or within 150 feet horizontally of the high water mark of any Reclamation waterbody.
§ 423.35 - Animals.
(a) You must not bring pets or other animals into public buildings, public transportation vehicles, or sanitary facilities. This provision does not apply to properly trained animals assisting persons with disabilities, such as seeing-eye dogs.
(b) You must not abandon any animal on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies, or harass, endanger, or attempt to collect any animal except game you are attempting to take in the course of authorized hunting, fishing, or trapping.
(c) Any unauthorized, unclaimed, or unattended animal on Reclamation lands may be:
(1) Removed in accordance with Federal law, and applicable State and local laws; and
(2) Confined at a location designated by an authorized official, who may assess a reasonable impoundment fee that must be paid before the impounded animal is released to its owner.
(d) The following animals are prohibited and are subject to removal in accordance with Federal law, and applicable State and local laws:
(1) Captive wild or exotic animals (including, but not limited to, cougars, lions, bears, bobcats, wolves, and snakes), except as allowed by a permit issued under subpart D of this part 423; and
(2) Any pets or animals displaying vicious or aggressive behavior or posing a threat to public safety or deemed a public nuisance.
(e) You must not bury, deposit, or scatter animal remains, or place memorials, markers, vases, or plaques on or in Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies. This section does not apply to the burial of parts of fish or wildlife taken in legal hunting, fishing, or trapping.
(f) Where recreation facilities or other areas of Reclamation lands and waterbodies are operated through a contract or other agreement by a managing recreation partner of another Federal, State, local, or Tribal governmental entity, such as a State park, the laws, ordinances, and regulations of those partner agencies pertaining to animals and pets shall be enforced by those partner agencies. However, Reclamation retains the authority to take necessary actions to safeguard the security and safety of the public and such Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies.
[73 FR 75349, Dec. 11, 2008, as amended at 88 FR 80992, Nov. 21, 2023]
§ 423.36 - Swimming.
(a) You may swim, wade, snorkel, scuba dive, raft, or tube at your own risk in Reclamation waters, except:
(1) You may not swim past signs, fences, buoys, or barriers marking public access limits to, or within, 100 yards of Reclamation structures including, but not limited to, dams, powerplants, pumping plants, spillways, water conveyance gates, intake structures, stilling basins, and outlet works;
(2) In canals, laterals, siphons, tunnels, and drainage works;
(3) At public docks, launching sites, and designated mooring areas; or
(4) As otherwise delineated by signs or other markers.
(b) You must display an international diver down, or inland diving flag in accordance with State and U.S. Coast Guard guidelines when engaging in any underwater activities.
(c) You must not dive, jump, or swing from dams, spillways, bridges, cables, towers, or other structures.
[73 FR 75349, Dec. 11, 2008, as amended at 88 FR 80992, Nov. 21, 2023]
§ 423.37 - Activities on iced waterbodies.
(a) You must not tow persons on skis, sleds, or other sliding devices with a motor vehicle or snowmobile, except that you may tow sleds designed to be towed behind snowmobiles if joined to the towing snowmobile with a rigid hitching mechanism, and you may tow disabled snowmobiles by any appropriate means.
(b) On iced-over Reclamation waterbodies, you must not ice skate, ice fish, ice sail, walk, ride, drive a vehicle, or otherwise move past buoys or barriers marking public access limits to, or come within 100 yards of, Reclamation structures including, but not limited to, dams, powerplants, pumping plants, spillways, water conveyance gates, intake structures, stilling basins, and outlet works.
(c) You must comply with all other posted restrictions.
[73 FR 75349, Dec. 11, 2008, as amended at 88 FR 80992, Nov. 21, 2023]
§ 423.38 - Operating vessels on Reclamation waters.
(a) You must comply with Federal, State, and local laws applicable to the operation of a vessel, other watercraft, or seaplane on Reclamation waters, and with any restrictions established by an authorized official.
(b) You must not operate a vessel, other watercraft, or seaplane in an area closed to the public.
(c) You must observe restrictions established by signs, buoys, and other regulatory markers.
(d) You must not operate a vessel, or knowingly allow another person to operate a vessel, in a reckless or negligent manner, or in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger a person, property, natural resource, or cultural resource.
(e) You must not operate a vessel when impaired or intoxicated under the standards established by applicable State and local law.
(f) You must not occupy a vessel overnight, except where otherwise designated under applicable Federal, State, or local law, or where otherwise designated by an authorized official in a special use area.
(g) You must not use a vessel as a place of habitation or residence.
(h) You must remove your vessels from Reclamation lands and waters when not in actual use for a period of more than 24 hours, unless they are securely moored or stored at special use areas so designated by an authorized official.
(i) You must not attach or anchor a vessel to structures such as locks, dams, regulatory or navigational buoys, or other structures not designed for such purpose.
(j) You must display an international diver down, or inland diving flag in accordance with State and U.S. Coast Guard guidelines when operating a vessel involved in any underwater activities.
(k) You may engage in towing activities, including, but not limited to, waterskiing and tubing, only during daylight hours and subject to any applicable Federal, State, and local law.
§ 423.39 - Standards for vessels.
(a) All vessels on Reclamation waters must:
(1) Be constructed and maintained in compliance with the standards and requirements established by, or promulgated under, Title 46 United States Code, and any applicable State and local laws and regulations;
(2) Have safety equipment, including personal flotation devices, on board in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard boating safety requirements and in compliance with applicable State and local boating safety laws and regulations; and
(3) If motorized, have and utilize a proper and effective exhaust muffler as defined by applicable State and local laws. Actions or devices which render exhaust mufflers ineffective are prohibited.
(b) Owners or operators of vessels not in compliance with this § 423.39 may be required to remove the vessel immediately from Reclamation waterbodies until items of non-compliance are corrected.
§ 423.40 - Vehicles.
(a) When operating a vehicle on Reclamation lands and Reclamation projects, you must comply with applicable Federal, State, and local laws, and with posted restrictions and regulations. Operating any vehicle through, around, or beyond a restrictive sign, recognizable barricade, fence, or traffic control barricade, is prohibited.
(b) You must not park a vehicle in violation of posted restrictions and regulations, or in a manner that would obstruct or impede normal or emergency traffic movement or the parking of other vehicles, create a safety hazard, or endanger any person, property, or natural feature. Vehicles so parked are subject to removal and impoundment at the owner's expense.
(c) You must not operate any vehicle, or allow another person to operate a vehicle in your control, in a careless, negligent or reckless manner that would endanger any person, property, natural resource, or cultural resource.
(d) In addition to the regulations in this part, the regulations governing off-road-vehicle use in 43 CFR part 420 apply.
§ 423.41 - Aircraft.
(a) You must comply with any applicable Federal, State, and local laws, and with any additional requirements or restrictions established by an authorized official in a special use area under subpart E of this part 423, with respect to aircraft landings, takeoffs, and operation on or in the proximity of Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies. Pilots are responsible for awareness of all applicable laws, regulations, requirements, and restrictions. This paragraph does not apply to pilots engaged in emergency rescue or in the official business of Federal, State, or local governments or law enforcement agencies, or who are forced to land due to circumstances beyond the pilot's control.
(b) Aircraft flight altitudes are as follows:
(1) You must not operate any aircraft within 400 feet near or over dams, powerplants, electrical switchyards, pumping plants, spillways, stilling basins, gates, intake structures, outlet works, warehouses, offices, maintenance facilities, campgrounds, gate houses, control houses, or other occupied recreation or operations facilities without prior approval by an authorized official.
(2) You must not operate any aircraft on or above Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies in a careless, negligent, or reckless manner so as to endanger or harass persons or wildlife or pose a risk to infrastructure or natural or cultural resources.
(c) Temporary flight restrictions are as follows:
(1) You must not operate an aircraft on or above Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies in violation of a temporary flight restriction established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) without prior approval by an authorized officer.
(2) This section does not provide authority to deviate from Federal or State regulations, or prescribed standards, including, but not limited to, regulations and standards concerning pilot certifications or ratings and airspace requirements.
(d) Except in extreme emergencies threatening human life or serious property loss, you must not use non-standard boarding and loading procedures to deliver or retrieve people, material, or equipment by parachute, balloon, helicopter, or other aircraft.
(e) You must comply with all applicable FAA and U.S. Coast Guard regulations (14 CFR parts 1, 61, and 91 and 33 CFR part 104, respectively) when operating a float/ski-equipped aircraft, including seaplanes, on Reclamation waterbodies.
(f) You must securely moor any float/ski-equipped aircraft, including seaplanes, remaining on Reclamation waterbodies in excess of 24 hours at mooring facilities and locations designated by an authorized official. Float/ski-equipped aircraft, including seaplanes, may be moored for periods of less than 24 hours on Reclamation waterbodies, except in special use areas otherwise designated by an authorized official, provided:
(1) The mooring is safe, secure, and accomplished so as not to damage the rights of the Government or the safety of persons; and
(2) The operator remains in the vicinity of the float/ski-equipped aircraft, including seaplanes, and is reasonably available to relocate the aircraft if necessary.
[73 FR 75349, Dec. 11, 2008, as amended at 88 FR 80992, Nov. 21, 2023]
§ 423.42 - Gambling.
Commercial gambling in any form, or the operation of gambling devices, is prohibited on Reclamation facilities, lands, and waterbodies unless authorized by applicable treaties or Federal, State, and local laws or regulations.
§ 423.43 - Alcoholic beverages.
You must not possess or consume alcoholic beverages in violation of Federal, State, or local law, or the rules of a special use area established by an authorized official under subpart E of this part 423.
§ 423.44 - Controlled substances.
You must not possess, consume, deliver, or be under the influence of, controlled substances included in schedules I, II, III, IV, or V of part B of the Controlled Substance Act (21 U.S.C. 812) on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies, unless the controlled substance was legally obtained through a valid prescription or order.
source: 73 FR 75349, Dec. 11, 2008, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 43 CFR 423.43