Interesting new boating law

[walleyemaxx]

Hi everyone,

Just in case you haven't heard, a new no wake within 100 feet of shore law is now in effect. Here is the story from the DNR.

All boats required to operate at slow-no-wake within 100 feet of shoreline
Weekly News Article Published: May 4, 2010 by the Central Office

MADISON – A new boating rule in Wisconsin is designed to make lakes safer while protecting shorelines and improving water quality. The law prohibits boaters from operating their boats at speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 100 feet of lake shorelines.

The law applies to all lakes, including the lake areas of flowages.

“The law will make it safer for people wading, swimming or fishing near shore, and it should help reduce conflicts between near-shore recreationists and boaters,” said Scott Bowe, a Department of Natural Resources conservation warden in Chippewa County.

Moreover, boats operating in shallow waters often churn up sediment and chop up vegetation, decreasing water quality, and potentially spreading invasive aquatic species like Eurasian water-milfoil. Slowing these boats will reduce this problem. In addition, eliminating near shore wakes will reduce shoreline erosion.

This change is in addition to current law which already prohibits boaters on lakes from operating at speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 100 feet of docks, rafts, piers and buoyed restricted areas.

Personal watercraft (PWC) operators must also follow these laws in addition to speed restrictions that apply specifically to PWCs. PWC operators cannot operate at a speed greater than slow-no-wake within 200 feet of the shoreline of any lake. They also are required to cut back to slow-no-wake speed when passing within 100 feet of other boats, including other PWCs. This law applies to both rivers and lakes.

Slow-no-wake is defined as the minimum speed required to maintain steerage. Speed violations are the primary source of boating complaints in the summer. Speed is also a frequent cause of boat crashes, especially at night, Bowe said.

People operating boats at night need to slow down to avoid colliding with people, boats or structures lawfully on the water. Running lights are required from sunset to sunrise.

When on unfamiliar waters, boaters are responsible for knowing all the rules. This means checking at boat ramps for local ordinances that might further regulate boating on that body of water.

More information about boating safety and Wisconsin Boating Regulations (pdf; 9.6kb) are available on the DNR website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Conservation Warden Scott Bowe, Chippewa Falls, (715) 239-6586 or communications specialist Ed Culhane, (715) 839-3715

This should prove to be interesting in a lot of areas of the Big Chip. Especially making the treck up to crane lake. What are your thoughts?

Walleyemaxx
Respect-Earned not given

[MCR_at_BigMusky]

So when they say “lake areas of flowages” they mean I can still be on plane going through First Pass on the Chip? What about the way up to Crane Lake? It’s not one the “lakes” on the chip, so it’s OK to be on plane?

[walleyemaxx]

Hi MCR at Big Musky,

I'm not 100% sure, but if a person has to go slow no wake to crane, that will not go over well at all. It does say lake areas so Crane creek should be exempt. But again, I'm not 100% sure. I might have to call the warden on that one. I think I'll email her to see what areas on the Chippewa Flowage she would enforce this new law. I'll get back when I get an answer.

Walleyemaxx
Respect-Earned not given.

[MCR_at_BigMusky]

Thanks for the info and thanks for looking into it! I hope it's more of a “keep the jet ski’s away from the docks” law and not a “I gave $10 grand in tickets at Hay Creek Narrows” law