The following are just a few of the statements made by the boating industry and enhanced wake supporters.
"A shoreline buffer of 200' is sufficient to dissipate enhanced wake wave energy"
Fact: 200' is the guideline from the Water Sport Industry Association (WSIA) and the Wake Responsibility program.
Fact: In their own guidelines for Wake Responsibility they state the 3 pillars are 1.) Stay at least 200 feet away from the shoreline, docks, or other structures allows boat wakes to recede enough to minimize any adverse effects. 2.) Keep Music at a reasonable level, and 3.) Minimize repetitive passes on any one portion of shoreline. Repetitively driving back and forth in the same line can damage shores and docks.
Key point: On lakes the size of those in the Town of Dayton (<120 acres) it is impossible for a single wake boat (let alone multiple) to avoid repetitive passes, and the wake boat industry acknowledges that this will cause damage! To clearly see this see the Town of Dayton Lakes for maps.
"The local economy and property values will be negatively impacted if there is a ordinance on enhanced wakes"
Fact: This comment is used as a distraction from the safety and environmental issues caused by enhanced wakes. The real economic impact of enhanced wakes is not what enhanced wake boat owners bring to the local economy its what they inflict on others - including
Lake owners having to put riprap (rocks) on the shoreline to try to prevent erosion from large waves
Lake owners having to repair docks damaged by enhanced wakes
Boat owners having to repair their boats because of damage done by enhanced wakes
Medical bills that have to be paid because of injuries caused by enhanced wakes
The loss of rental income because - as the renter said "last year my boat was pinned under the dock by enhanced wakes and severely damaged - I'm not coming back to the Chain"
Visitors refusing to come back to the Waupaca Chain O'Lakes because they can't safely enjoy them.
Lake property values are impacted by the clarity of the water and the ability to enjoy them - enhanced wakes negatively impacts both.
Local business adjust to customer demand - not on a vocal minority
In addition - the major impact to the local economy are the people that visit the area, and boat landing studies, and petition data shows paddle sports enthusiasts are the major visitors.
"A enhanced wake ordinance should be handled at the state level"
Fact: There will be no regulation at the state level for years. Legislators have stated "any regulation of enhanced wakes must be done at the local level for the foreseeable future."
"This type of ordinance should be handed by the DNR"
Fact: The DNR reviews, and enforces state and local ordinances - it does not define them.
"A enhanced wake ordinance is not enforceable"
Fact: It is required that all lake ordinances be reviewed and approved by the Wisconsin DNR to ensure they can be enforced. The Town of Farmington's enhanced wake ordinance was reviewed and approved by the Wisconsin DNR - the Town of Dayton's ordinance would mirror the Town of Farmington's.
Fact: The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office has patrolled the Chain O’ Lakes for over 20 years. In 2023, they patrolled for over 666 hours and issued three OWI citations, 18 navigational citations, 78 compliance checks, 13 vessel assists, 38 citations, and 62 warnings. The Sheriff and the Town of Farmington have a Memo of Understanding outlining the Sheriff’s agreement to enforce the town’s ordinances.
Fact: Many of the lakes in Wisconsin that have wake enhancement ordinances don’t have a water patrol. However, they have found voluntary compliance to be highly effective, especially when combined with neighbor peer pressure and community advocacy.
"Enhanced wakes cause no more, or even less, damage than naturally occurring wind waves"
Fact: This comment is used as a distraction from the real problem of safety and environmental damage, and ignores studies that conclude comparing wind wave energy to boat wave energy is meaningless.
Boat wave energy is based on how much water the boat displaces and how fast the boat is going. Wind waves are generated by wind creating friction with the water surface - wind wave energy is concentrated at the surface. Energy from a boat wake goes up exponentially with wave height.
Reference - The effects of Boat Wakes on Sheltered Waters - 30 years of continuous studies - Gregory Cox, Gergor Macfarlane.
Seeing is believing - Check out the videos comparing enhanced wakes to wind waves on Long Lake - Waupaca Chain O'Lakes - here
"Why focus on wake boats when large pontoon boats also create huge waves"
Fact: A 25-foot Tritoon with a 350 HP engine weighs 4,200 pounds dry. The propeller thrust is directed parallel to the lake surface. Pontoons are designed to skip over the waves.
A 25" Wake boat weighs 7,500 dry pounds and can hold 4,800 pounds of ballast, or 12,300 pounds. The propeller thrust is directed 30 degrees down toward the lake bed. Wake boats are designed to plow the water.
Wave height and energy are determined by displacement weight and hull shape.
A pontoon and a wake boat are two very different water crafts, designed for very different purposes and comparing them is intended as a distraction from the issue of enhanced wakes.
"Wisconsin public trust doctrine states - people have the right to recreate on Wisconsin waterways!"
Fact: Actually it's a privilege and it does not give people the right/permission to prevent others from safely recreating, or to damage property/environment.
Fact: When the Wisconsin Legislative Council was asked if a enhanced wake ordinance would violate the Public Trust Doctrine - the answer was "You asked whether legislation to restrict wake boats would be upheld if challenged under the Public Trust Doctrine. For reasons discussed in the full response, the short answer is that such legislation would likely be upheld."
"Lets compromise"
"200' buffer" - Fact: The Waupaca Chain O'Lakes are too small for even a 200' buffer - no one else would be able to use the lakes. See more here, and here, and here.
"Extend ski hours so the boat traffic is spread out during the day" - Fact - Lakes the size of the Chain O'Lakes, Spencer, and Stratton are to small to support enhanced wakes from even one boat. See here, and here, and here.
"Limit or restrict people from coming into the lakes to reduce boat traffic" - Fact - This violates the Wisconsin Public Trust Doctrine.
"Designate one lake (i.e. Rainbow Lake, or Long Lake) as a enhanced wake lake" - Fact - Even though Rainbow lake is the biggest lake on the Waupaca Chain O'Lakes is to small for enhanced wakes (it's 3 times smaller than what is normally considered acceptable for enhanced wakes). See here, and here, and here.
"Designate specific times that enhanced wakes are allowed" Fact - The Waupaca Chain O'Lakes, Stratton, and Spencer Lakes are to small for enhanced wakes. See here, and here, and here.
"The next thing they're going to do is prohibit water skiing and tubing"
Fact: The Waupaca Chain O’ Lakes District has issued a formal statement rebuffing rumors and false claims. The Lake District has no authority to enact any ordinances or enforceable restrictions on activities unless granted by the Towns. See the the formal statement here
"Education is the real solution to the problem"
Fact: The boating industry has a very active education program “Wake Responsibly” - over 17 towns in the state of Wisconsin wouldn't already have ordinances on enhanced wakes if just education was the solution. See here for other towns that have enhanced wake ordinances.
"Do nothing - more ordinance are not needed!"
Fact: With the known environmental and safety impacts, along with overwhelming support for an ordinance, it would be irresponsible to do nothing.