Safety Zone; Ohio Street Beach Swim Course, Lake Michigan, Chicago Harbor, Chicago, IL
- Published
- Sep 4, 2026
- Citation
- 91 FR 56779
- Docket
- Docket No. USCG-2026-1083
- Agencies
- DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, Coast Guard
Notification of enforcement of regulation.
Summary
The U.S. Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Ohio Street Beach in Chicago Harbor for the Chicago Masters’ “Big Shoulders” 5‑kilometer and 2.5‑kilometer open‑water swim races. The zone is intended to keep swimmers safe by keeping other vessels, anchored boats, and transiting traffic out of the water where the race will take place. No boat may enter, pass through, or anchor in the zone unless it receives permission from the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated on‑scene official. The regulation is issued by the Department of Homeland Security’s Coast Guard and applies to all boat operators, commercial vessels, and recreational craft that use the portion of Lake Michigan surrounding Ohio Street Beach during the event. The rule was published in the Federal Register on September 4, 2026 (91 FR 56779) and takes effect immediately upon publication. Because this is an enforcement notice rather than a proposed rule, there is no public comment period. From the effective date forward, Coast Guard personnel will monitor the area and enforce the prohibition, allowing only vessels that have obtained prior authorization. Anyone who needs to enter the zone for legitimate reasons must contact the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or the on‑scene representative to request clearance. The safety zone will remain in place for the duration of the swim event and will be lifted once the races are concluded.
AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.
Official abstract
The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for the Chicago Masters' Big Shoulders 5K and 2.5K Open Water Swim event to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during a swim event. Our regulation for marine events within the Great Lakes Coast Guard District identified the safety zone for this event in Chicago, IL. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated on-scene representative.
Topics
Track this rulemaking
Get alerts when this document changes status or its comment period closes, plus the bills that connect to it.
Sign up free