John Bates: Wake Boats - Ban Them
From John Bates blog post - A Northwoods Almanac for August 6, 2021
“Wake boats scour bottom sediments harming plant life and spawning grounds, stir up sediments creating murkier water and reintroducing phosphorous and other nutrients into the water promoting algal blooms, the waves erode shorelines, impact anglers and kayakers and pontooners, and on and on. Rather than continue with all the reasons why wake boats should be banned from all but our very largest and deepest lakes, just go to https://lastwildernessalliance.org.
The science is robust on this issue. For two comprehensive resources, see: http://www.trpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010-WI-Dept-of-Natural-Resources_UW-Boats-effects-on-ecosystems. Also see a lengthy report put out by citizens in Presque Isle: https://piwi.us/CMS/files/2021/Condition%20Report_%20Presque%20Isle%20Hazardous%20%20Wake%20Ordinance.pdf.
Due to space constraints, I’m going to jump to heart of the matter, which is the “what can be done” question. Towns can enact ordinances banning wake boats. Towns already ban motor boats from many undeveloped lakes in our area, and have enacted ordinances restricting water skiing, jet skis, hours of operation, and more. So, towns should be able to ban wake boats.
The lakes in our area are primarily small and shallow kettle lakes – 88% of Oneida County lakes are less than 25 feet deep, while 50% of Vilas and Oneida County lakes are less than 10 acres. We are also a globally important area for our concentration of lakes, which the Northern Highlands American Legion State Forest says draws 2 million visitors to our area every year.
Let’s cut to the chase. There’s limits on virtually everything allowed in this world, from speeds on our roads, to zoning laws saying where one can build and in what manner, to allowable air/water/noise pollution, to how much harmful additives can be placed in our food, etc. There’s a point where someone’s “rights” exceed that which the vast majority are willing to tolerate. When do our responsibilities for protecting these pristine lakes outweigh an individual’s right to do as one pleases? We’re there now.”
More from the blog: http://manitowishriver.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-northwoods-almanac-for-august-6-2021.html