THE RIVER!
PREMIER TOURISM ATTRACTION OF THE WEST!
 Parker's
economy is based primarily on tourism. The 16-mile strip of the Colorado River, between
Parker Dam and Headgate Rock Dam, forms one of the finest bodies
of water in the country for water-based recreational activities. This makes
Parker a major destination point for tourists and winter visitors who take advantage of local
motels, campgrounds, an 18-hole golf course, mobile homes, RV Parks, restaurants, gasoline stations and
convenience markets.
Agriculture, historically the major economic base of Parker, continues to contribute to the local economy.
The fertile fields of the Colorado River yield melons, lettuce, cotton, wheat, barley and alfalfa. The 270,000-acre
Colorado River Indian Reservation is an integral part of the community.
The Parker Strip
 Lake Moovalya,
created by Parker Dam to the north and Headgate Rock Dam to the south,
accounts for a number of boating accidents on the California side of the Colorado. This 10-mile-long, 400-foot-wide
body of water is perhaps better known as “The Parker Strip.” A majority of accidents on The Strip
involved motorboats under20 feet in length. These accidents are usually the result of improper lookout,
operator inattention or carelessness, intoxicated operation, or illegal skiing practices. Citations will
be issued to boats emitting a noise level above 86 decibels at 50 feet on the Arizona side. The noise level
requirements for boats operating on the California side of the river is determined by the year the boat
engine was manufactured, but in no instance can the noise level exceed 86 decibels. See the “ABCs of the California Boating Law” for
legal noise limits.
Hazards
 Boaters
must be constantly alert for underwater and partially submerged hazards such as sandbars, rocks, or snags
on the Colorado. In areas where fast currents empty into lakes, such as the north basin of Lake Havasu,
it is not uncommon to find floating, partially submerged tree stumps that can measure ten feet or more in
length. Because water levels fluctuate both seasonally and daily, the visibility of hazards in the water
can vary. Sandbars continually change position as the current disturbs the river’s sandy bottom. The current
varies from 2 to 8 mph depending on the area, season, and amount of water being released from dams upstream.
Few aids to navigation exist on portions of the Colorado. A typical “snag warning” may be a bottle tied
to the limb of a submerged cottonwood by a conscientious fisherman. Shoals and sandbars usually are not
marked, so BE ALERT. Rafters are quite common on the river. Since they can be difficult to see, motor boaters
should be on the lookout for rafts and proceed with caution.
Stretches of the river suitable for paddle craft are below Parker Dam
More Information?
Download the Colorado River Guide 
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