Coalition to protect Wisconsin’s lakes sees strong movement

A Wisconsin-based coalition focused on protecting Wisconsin’s lakes is highlighting a recent study showing the damage done by wake-enhanced boating. The group is also praising efforts spreading across the nation to regulate wake-enhanced boating. “The recently released University of Minnesota study and video emphasize the difference between how a ski boat and a wake boat in wake-enhanced boating mode impact the bottom of the lake. The video underscores the destructive impact wake-enhanced boating has to fishing nests, habitats and the sediment at the bottom of the lake,” said Meleesa Johnson, executive director, of Green Fire. “The boating industry can’t run away from this study, the video, and the damage being done by these monster trucks on water.” In July, Connecticut became the most recent state to take action against wakeenhanced boating. In the towns of Kent, Washington, and Warren, the local citizens voted overwhelmingly to ban the activity of wake-enhanced boating on Lake Waramaug. The vote was a staggering 78% vote to ban the activity with 1,452 people voting for the ban. In Vermont, they are proposing to limit the number of lakes that will allow wakeenhanced boating to 18 lakes in the entire state. A position that is gaining momentum. In Michigan there is legislation (House Bill 5532) calling for wake-enhanced boating to be only allowed in depths of 20 feet and 500 feet from shore. In Minnesota there is legislation banning wake-enhanced boating on a 6 mile stretch of the Mississippi River. Jeff Meessmann, Last Wilderness Alliance board member, went on to state, “In Wisconsin, more than 61 towns have passed ordinances regulating or banning wake-enhanced boating, thus protecting nearly 350 lakes from the damage done by wake-enhanced boating and the number is growing every day. This demonstrates how much anger and awareness there is regarding the damage wake-enhanced boating inflicts on Wisconsin’s pristine lakes and waterways.” Dan Johnson, Wisconsin Lakes director of the West Central Region of Wisconsin, concluded by saying, “The rest of the nation is starting to realize what we have been witnessing in Wisconsin. Wake-enhanced boating is destroying lakes quickly and if action isn’t taken to protect our lakes, it will simply be too late to fix.” In Wisconsin, the efforts which started with five groups has now expanded to nearly 100 Wisconsin coalition members consisting of thousands of Wisconsinites. The coalition includes numerous fishing groups, local control supporters, riparian rights advocates, outdoor enthusiasts, environmentalists, and people who wish to protect one of Wisconsin’s greatest assets--our waterways.