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Wake Surfing – All Eyes on Wisconsin

Upcoming Conferences

• Florida Lake Management Society 36th Annual Technical Symposium
• California Lake Management Society 39th Annual Conference

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The main issues with wake boats include:

• Shoreline Erosion: The large wakes created by these boats can accelerate erosion along the shorelines, especially on smaller lakes with fragile ecosystems. This erosion can disrupt natural habitats, damage property, and increase sediment runoff, impacting water quality.

• Sediment Disturbance: Wake boats “plowing” motion, churn up sediment and tear apart aquatic plants, especially in small, shallow lakes. This stirs up nutrients like phosphorus, making the water murky, destroying fish habitats, and promoting algae blooms. The disruption also encourages invasive species, damaging the lake’s fragile ecosystem.

• Disturbance to Wildlife: The powerful waves can disturb wildlife, especially waterfowl and aquatic creatures. Sensitive species may be particularly affected by the increased wave action and boat noise.

• Safety Concerns: The large waves generated by wake boats can pose risks to other boaters, swimmers, and paddlers, who may find it difficult to navigate or remain safe in the choppy waters.

• Conflicts Among Lake Users: The use of wake boats can lead to tension between different groups of lake users. Anglers, kayakers, canoeists, and those seeking a quiet, peaceful experience on the water may find their enjoyment diminished by the waves and noise created by these boats.

In response to these concerns, some lakes and local governments have implemented regulations, such as restricting wake boats to certain areas or imposing limits on boat speed and the size of wakes that can be generated. However, balancing the interests of different lake users while protecting the environment remains a challenge in many Wisconsin communities.

31 Wisconsin communities now have ordinances restricting “artificial wake enhancement.” Mequon and Thiensville were the first, passing restrictions in 2009 along the Milwaukee River, banning boats from creating wakes by operating in a “bow-high manner” or at “transition speed,” which is key for wakesurfing.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only five such ordinances existed. From 2021 to 2023, 10 more were passed, and in 2024, 16 additional communities imposed restrictions. These 31 ordinances now affect nearly 200 lakes across the state.

See More https://youtu.be/DPhdLGrWX0Y?si=Dk5V8lI6fUW53pT1

A wake boating advisory has been issued by the municipalities that surround Green Lake.

Wake boats have special tanks allowing them to create larger wakes than other boats. The advisory asks wake boaters to operate in wake mode in a minimum depth of 40 feet of water and stay at least 700 feet from shore.

According to the DNR, Green Lake has a maximum depth of roughly 236 feet.

The recommended area is outlined on a map from the Green Lake Association. This leaves 60% of the lake available for wake surfing.

The advisory comes following a recent study by the University of Minnesota, which looked at how wake surfing can kick up lake sediment, erode shorelines and potentially transport invasive species.

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Upcoming Conferences:

• Florida Lake Management Society 33rd Annual Technical Symposium

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