Indigo Lake Estates - Lake Rules and Regulations- (Revised Sept. 30, 2004 )

 

Registration Requirements

  All watercraft on Indigo Lake must meet the below listed registration requirements.  The Property Owner of record must be present to register the watercraft and sign the Acknowledgement Form.  When registration is complete two Observation Stickers will be applied to the watercraft.  These stickers must remain on the watercraft while on Indigo Lake.  The TX Number will identify the property owner. 

 

1.       Current proof of liability insurance and ownership must be shown for each watercraft registered. Watercraft that are registered must be owned by the property owner.

 

2.       Watercraft must have aboard all TPW required paraphernalia. These include: Life vests for every boater, fire extinguisher, orange 'down-tow' flag, mirror, horn or whistle, and running lights when appropriate.

 

3.       Guest, or rental, craft will be registered by the Property Owner of record and will display a clip-on numbered flag in lieu of the stickers to show they've complied with the Lake Rules. Guest registration is valid for one day unless otherwise authorized at the time of guest registration.  A $25 deposit will be refunded when the flag is returned.

 

4.        Specifically exempted from registration are canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats, etc. 

 

Lake Rules and Regulations

 

1.       The property owner identified by the TX Number is accountable for the safe conduct of the watercraft so assigned.

 

2.       The 'Property Owner' must be present in a launching party, and must remain with them either in the picnic and beach areas, or on the lake lots. Property Owner in this context is lot owner or resident, their children, grandchildren, and spouses and these people must be listed by name below.

 

3.       No person under 16 years of age may operate a motorcraft over 15 hp or windblown vessel over 14 feet in length unless accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older. Exception: If the person is at least 13 years of age and has successfully passed the Texas Parks and Wildlife approved boater education course. For operators under the age of 18 a photo ID is required, which must be on the person or craft.  There is no age restriction for motorcraft with motors less than 15hp.

 

4.       Operating a watercraft under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is illegal and unsafe.  Anyone suspected of being under the influence will be required to leave the premises, and the appropriate law enforcement agency will be notified.  A zero tolerance position will be taken in regards to operating under the influence.

 

5.       All boat traffic will be in a counterclockwise direction with speed limits of 5 mph in 'no wake' zones and 45 mph maximum on the main lake. 

 

6.       It is unlawful and against lake regulations to operate watercraft in a reckless manner, and or at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and prudent or greater than will permit you to bring your boat to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.  Determination of reckless, reasonable or prudent operation of watercraft will be at the sole judgment of the ILE BOD and person or persons appointed by the ILE BOD.

 

7.       It is unlawful and against lake regulations to operate in a circular course around swimmers, to remain stationary for an extended period or to operate your vessel in such a way as to prevent, impede, or interfere with safe passage of any other boat through the same area.

 

8.       Motorcraft shall not operate within 100 feet of another PWC, motorboat, person, object, or shore except at 'no wake' speed.

 

9.    It is unlawful and against lake regulations, when operating a PWC, to jump the wake of another vessel recklessly or follow unnecessarily close. (see also rule #6 above) It is expressly forbidden for any watercraft to jump the wake of any watercraft that has a person in tow.

 

10.    Sporting operation of PWC's must be conducted on a “non-occupied” part of the lake: i.e. no other watercraft within 300 feet. (see also rule #6 above)

 

11.    It is unlawful and against lake regulations to operate within 50 feet of a "Diver Down Flag" or operate a boat within 150 feet of a "Diver Down Flag" except at ‘headway / steerage speed.

 

12.   Every boat or PWC towing a person(s) on water skis, tubes or other similar device must have:

        a. An observer, other than the boat operator 13 years of age or older, or…
b. A rearview mirror,  and

        c. An orange caution flag, which must be raised to indicate persons in the water.

13.   A PWC must be rated for at least two (2) persons when towing persons on water skis, tubes or a similar device.  If an observer is used, the PWC must be rated for  three (3) people – the driver, the observer, and the retrieved skier.

 

14.  All watercraft behind or beside a person-in-tow or a fallen person-in-tow must maintain a safe distance to allow time to avoid a fallen skier with a minimum of at least 200 feet clearance. When a faster moving craft comes up on another slower moving craft that has a person-in-tow or a fallen person-in-tow, the faster craft is to (1) stop and wait or (2) slow down or alter course to maintain a safe or minimum required 200 feet.  If the overtaking watercraft is also pulling a skier the overtaking watercraft may elect to turn around by turning left (counter-clock-wise) across the middle area of the lake and carefully enter into the flow of traffic in the opposite direction.  Passing persons-in-tow is not allowed except where the 200-foot clearance can be maintained. 

 

15.    From dusk until dawn, watercraft must revert to 'no wake' speed on the entire lake with running lights on.

 

16.    Operators of watercraft so equipped must wear an engaged motor kill-switch device (required on PWC’s).

 

17.    PWC riders must wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD).

 

18.    Persons towed in any manner must wear a Coast Guard approved PFD.

 

19.    Racing is not permitted. (Caution: Some insurance companies may deem liability coverage void if watercraft is used for racing or negligent behavior.)

 

20.    The right-of-way, as defined by the Inland Navigation Rules of the Federal Collision Avoidance Regulations, will be yielded in the following order: PWC's yield to motorboats, to watercraft with a person in tow, to sailboats, to paddle boats and all will yield to swimmers. It is expected that sailboats, paddleboats, and swimmers will be careful not to put themselves in harms way. 

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The above described rules and regulations may include laws established by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and other State and Federal Agency’s, but do not include all state and federal laws, many of which change from time to time.  It is the intention of the ILE BOD for residents and their guests to adhere to the established rules as published as well as all State and Federal laws.  The ILE BOD may at its sole discretion assess fines or limit access to residents and or their guests for violations of the ILE rules and regulations, as set forth, as well as State and Federal laws.  The ILE BOD, and or persons designated by the ILE BOD, may require a violator of these regulations to leave the lake, and may also solicit law enforcement agencies, if so required to enforce such laws.

 

I understand the "Indigo Lake Estates - Rules and Regulations" and acknowledge that I will be held accountable for their adherence with my watercraft, and any watercraft admitted to the lake by me. And further, I will ensure that all persons operating these watercraft have viewed the ‘ILE Boating Education’ video (when it is made available). 

 

Property Owner Signature_______________________________Printed______________________________Date______

 

Address______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Phone number_______________________________ email_____________________________________________________

 

Section _____Block _____Lot_____

 

 

List All  Names & birth dates of ALL persons that qualify as “property owner” in Lake Rule #2 above: 

 

Name & D.O.B      

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

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For each Watercraft owned by the Property Owner you must complete the ILE Watercraft Registration Forms