Why is boating allowed on the southern end of the lake but swimming is not allowed?

The PWD doesn’t allow boats, the State doesn’t prohibit them. Only the legislature could prohibit them and they have not chosen to do so.

Boating does not pose a significant risk to drinking water quality. Generally, chemicals from motors float on the surface of the water and evaporate quickly. Since PWD intake pipes are located near the bottom of the lake, gas and oil chemicals are not of great concern. Swimming is not allowed because human bodies may introduce bacteria and/or viruses to the water supply. Although the disinfection process has been proven to kill pathogenic bacteria and viruses, it is better to reduce the risk of waterborne illness by keeping human bodies away from the intake area.