UPDATE: Wake Surfing Bill hearing date set for August 26
We’ve just received news that a wake-surfing industry-backed bill is expected to be introduced next week.
Wake Surfing Bill Alert
Urgent Action Needed: An Industry-backed Wake Surfing Bill is coming to Madison.
VCLRA’s Winter 24-25 newsletter is out!
Read about our revised membership process, a new state-wide coalition on wake boats, climate change, Blue Heron award recipients and more…
North Lakeland Woods and Water Conference
Our registration is now open for the 2nd annual North Lakeland Woods and Water Conference to be held on Friday, April 25, 2025.
Video and photos from 2024 six-county meeting
Missed our 2024 Northwoods Six-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting in July? No problem — view the video plus event photos online.
Annual Spring Hearing and Public Input Opportunity: Wakesurfing
The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will once again offer their annual opportunity for the public to provide input on a variety of questions, including wake boat regulation, online starting at noon April 10 to noon on April 13, 2024.
Wake Boats and Lakes
Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF) released a new report on the effects of wake boats on Wisconsin lakes. WGF’s report “The Effects of Wake Boats on Lake Ecosystem Health: A Literature Review,” compiles findings from over 175 scientific studies in the U.S.
VCLRA’s 2024 winter newsletter available
Celebrating 30 years of protecting our Vilas waters, Wakesurfing legislation; Vilas short-term rental ordinance; Northern Lakes Toolbox; How trees benefit lakes; Blue Heron Award and more!
Vilas County passes zoning ordinance regulating tourist rooming houses
The Vilas County Tourist Rooming House Ordinance passed with a unanimous vote last week.
Rushed legislation on wakeboats under consideration
State-wide legislation regulating wakesurfing with simply a 200-foot minimum distance from shore criterion for wake boats is under consideration. This would be an attempt to preempt research and discussion by all stakeholders, which has been underway here in Wisconsin and in several other states.
2023 VCLRA Summer Newsletter
News about the the July 14th six-county lakes and rivers conference featuring a panel on law-enforcement challenges affecting the health and enjoyment of our lakes; update on wake boat resolutions and more!
WCC Spring Hearing accepting input on regulating wake surfing
VCLRA is again requesting your input to the 2023 Wisconsin Conservation Congress Annual Spring Hearing on REGULATING WAKE SURFING ON WISCONSIN LAKES AND RIVERS. Input can be provided online from noon April 10 to noon April 13.
Permanent Shoreland Protection
Permanent land conservation is one of the most effective ways to safeguard our lakes and rivers.
Vilas County Local Regulation of Hazardous Wakes Workshop
If your town is considering a hazardous wake ordinance, you may want to attend this workshop at the Boulder Junction Community Center on March 8, 2023. The purpose of this workshop is to offer guidance on how to regulate hazardous wakes through local ordinances.
Winter 2022-23 newsletter available
Our Winter 2022-2023 newsletter is available. Read about Hazardous Wake Issues, Blue Heron Stewardship awards, AIS prevention and much more…
2022 Six-County Lakes & Rivers Conference Presentations
View the presentations from our most recent multi-county lakes & Rivers Conference
Managing your lake shoreline buffers for healthy waters
06/28/2022 12:30 PM - 04:30 PM CT at the North Lakeland Discovery Center Our Northwoods lakes have a protective shield – healthy shoreline buffers! Join Mariquita Sheehan, Conservation Specialist for…
Regulation of wake boats: an opportunity to provide input to state regulators
The public has an opportunity to influence state regulations through the 2022 Spring Hearing online input sponsored by The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC), which is a liaison between the citizens of Wisconsin, the Natural Resources Board (NRB) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Its purpose is to provide an avenue for public input and exchange concerning conservation issues in Wisconsin. Pending approval by the Wisconsin Legislature, what started as a Citizen Resolution can become a Wisconsin rule/law. To that end, WCC has submitted several proposed Citizen Resolution questions for Vilas County and Dane county. If these resolution questions pass the first step, they will follow the process toward a hazardous wake resolution at the state level. If successful, current State boating regulations and statutes could be changed to regulate wake boats.
Comment on VCLRA’s Wake Boats article
by Bobbie Kocim, bkocim@sbcglobal.net
I read the Winter 2021-22 Newsletter article regarding Wake Boats. [See page 6 of the winter newsletter.] It may be of interest to readers to know WI currently has State Statutes which offer some relief from documented wake boat damage.
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2021 Six County Lakes & Rivers Conference Video
View all presentations from the 2021 six-county lakes and rivers conference, which was hosted by Vilas and Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Associations on July 16th 2021. Attendees were invited from Oneida, Vilas, Forest, Langlade, Iron and Lincoln counties. Pat Goggin, lake specialist at the UW Extension Lakes, was the conference leader. Climate change, high water, development, and less state protections can all impact water quality in the Northwoods and were some of the topics addressed during the meeting by lake leaders and experts from Wisconsin and Minnesota.