Lakes at Stake Wisconsin Celebrates Vermont’s Monumental Efforts to Protect Lakes from Wake Boat Damage

New rules will substantially improve lake ecology, state tourism, and safety

Madison—January 8, 2024--Vermont released the nation’s most comprehensive regulations on wake-enhanced sports. The new rules, which are anticipated to be in effect for the 2024 boating season, stipulate that: enhanced wake sports must be 500 feet from shore, in no less than 20 feet of water, and only on lakes where the state has mapped a minimum 50-acre zone designated for the activity. In addition, wake boats must be registered to operate on a specific lake and are required to undergo professional decontamination of their ballast tanks before operating on another lake, in order to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.  

Lakes at Stake Wisconsin, a bipartisan grassroots organization committed to protecting Wisconsin lakes from the impacts caused by wake-enhanced boating, announced its enthusiastic support for the new Vermont rules with the following statement from the association’s president, Paul Gardetto.

“Vermont took action to protect its lakes, which greatly assists its tourism and Vermont’s economy by making sure its lakes will be pristine for generations. We are hopeful that Wisconsin will pursue a similar path.  

We commend Vermont for rightly identifying that boats operating in wake-enhanced mode are a serious threat to lakes and recognize that these actions inflict shoreline damage, decimation of lake bottoms, risk boater safety, and hurt efforts to address aquatic invasive species. Establishing reasonable restrictions on wake-enhanced boating protects tourism, fishing, and the safe enjoyment for all who use our state’s lakes and rivers.”

The Wisconsin Legislature is currently considering Assembly Bill 656/ Senate Bill 680 that would allow wake-enhanced boating on any lake greater than 50 acres, so long as the activity occurs no less than 200 feet from shore. Lakes at Stakes Wisconsin opposes the bill in its current form, which it says lacks adequate safeguards for lakes and those who enjoy them. Lakes at Stake is lobbying legislators for more meaningful reforms to protect Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers.

For more information about Lakes at Stake and its position, please visit www.lakesatstake.org.