Enhanced Wake Studies

For your reading pleasure - the following are studies that have been done on enhanced wakes. 

• Wisconsin's Green Fire - The Effects of Wake Boats on Lakes Ecosystem (2024)

  • • Peer reviewed

    • Recommends at least 600' shoreline buffer

    • Recommends at least 20' water depth

    • Addresses environmental impacts

    • Does not address human safety or the impact on other recreational water sports

• Characterization of Wake-Sport Wakes and Their Potential Impact on Shorelines, Goudy et al - (2015)

  • Most frequently cited paper by the boating industry

  • Included testing with a wake boat but did not compare to a traditional ski boat

  • Paid for by the Water Sports Industry Association

  • Not peer reviewed

• Numerical Study of the Impact of Wake Surfing on Inland Bodies of Water (2022)

  • Computer modeling only - no actual testing

  • Funded by the Boating Industry (Mercury Marine)

  • States with a 200' shoreline buffer there will be minimal environmental damage - did not define what minimal means or address safety issues.

• A Field Study of Maximum Wave Height, Total Wave Energy, and Maximum Wave Power Produced by Four Recreational Boats on a Freshwater Lake 

  • Summary of the findings 

  • Recommends at least 500' shoreline buffer

  • Most frequently cited paper not from the boating industry

  • University Study that was peer reviewed

  • Considered the most credible study.

• Western Colorado Univ. study on Big Payette Lake

  • Recommends at least 500' shoreline buffer

• Univ. of Quebec study on Lakes Lovering and Memphrémagog (Mercier-Blais and Prairie, 2014)

  • Recommends at least 500' shoreline buffer