The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is joining the Minnesota DNR in a public campaign urging all boaters to be aware of the risks and problems caused by boat wakes and to take steps to reduce big wakes.
Chief Conservation Warden with the DNR, Todd Schaller, says with more water in rivers and lakes, boat wakes are becoming a concern for shoreline erosion...
"...Wakes from boats impacts other users, impacts shorelines, impact owners of shorelines under normal conditions. But when you have high water conditions like you have across all of the state, they grow and they're worse or bigger. The idea is to remind boaters of that so they take precautions out on the waterways...."
Driven by a growing number of calls and complaints about excessive wakes, both states launched an educational effort urging people to "Own Your Wake - for everyone's sake." They hope to spread the word about the importance of minimizing wakes that might pose a nuisance or hazard to others.
Schaller says there is an easy solution...
"..slow down, particularly when you're around other boats or in close proximity to shorelines. That wake has an impact. Higher speeds have more wake and that's really the bottom line message..."
Anyone with information regarding natural resource violations, may confidentially report by calling or texting 1-800-TIP-WDNR. The hotline is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
