Urgent Action Needed: An Industry-backed Wake Surfing Bill is coming to Madison

We’ve just received news that a wake-surfing industry-backed bill is expected to be introduced in the Assembly within the first two weeks of September.

While we don’t have the exact language yet, we anticipate it will include inadequate depth and distance-from-shore requirements and will likely restrict local control (the rights of towns to decide what’s best for their lakes). Once we know the bill’s exact details, we will immediately notify you on how you can help stop bad legislation.

The wake-surfing industry’s strategy is to rush this bill through the Assembly before we have time to respond. They will likely push for a public hearing to be scheduled with as little as 72 hours’ notice. This hearing will probably be held by the Assembly Committee on Forestry, Parks, and Recreation on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in Madison, Wisconsin.

We Must Show Up

We need a strong showing at the public hearing. We are at a geographic disadvantage, as most wake-surf boat dealers are in Southern Wisconsin and will likely turn out in force. We must have a powerful presence to counter their efforts.

We will notify you immediately once the bill language is available and guide you on contacting your legislators. In the meantime, you can find your representatives using one of these tools:

• Wisconsin Legislative maps: Enter your address to find your district.
• Wisconsin Legislature website: Use the “Who Are My Legislators?” tool.

The Last Wilderness Alliance has successfully helped dozens of the 61 towns that adopted enhanced wake ordinances, and now the wake-surfing industry has set its sights on Wisconsin.

The future of our lakes is at risk.

To learn more, click on these underlined links:

• Results from the Wisconsin Conservation Congress votes show overwhelming support for strong lake protections by Senate District.
• A list of Assembly Committee members. It is particularly important to contact the first six representatives listed, who are all part of the GOP.

Jeff Meessmann is a director in the LAST WILDERNESS ALLIANCE and a founding member of the WISCONSIN LAKES COALITION. Jeff has been a leading spokesman about the damage done to Wisconsin lakes by wake-enhanced boating, and has been assisting towns and lake associations with ways to regulate wake boating through local ordinances.