Wake enhancing watercraft in lafollette

 Wake enhancing watercraft are very popular in Wisconsin. They allow the users to water ski, surf, and wake board without the use of a tow rope. They have also been subject of some concern due to potential detrimental effects to lake bottoms and shore if operated in shallow water or too close to the shoreline. Since they operate by filling the hull bladder with hundreds of gallons of lake water, there is concern for transferring invasive species between water bodies as the bladder cannot be fully emptied. They have been the subject of at least three articles in the Wisconsin State Journal  

At the March 2025 town board meeting, several town landowners approached the board with a request to enact an ordinance to limit the use of Wake Enhancing Watercraft on all lakes within the town borders. These landowners presented a draft ordinance, a draft letter for DNR review of the ordinance and a conditions report supporting the need for the ordinance. The proposed ordinance is similar to one implemented by the Town of Scott in Burnett County as well as other towns throughout Wisconsin.

Several of the attendees spoke in favor for the enactment of the ordinance and the observed effects on the lakes and lake users. They cited examples of boat wash, shore erosion, water clarity and interference with other boating activities (e.g., fishing, paddle boarding, etc.). these issues have been identified in recent news articles. In January the Wisconsin State Journal published an article that identified 60 grassroots organizations encouraging the state legislature and the Wisconsin DNR to set limits on where this type of watercraft can operate .  In April, the same newspaper published opinion articles showing the pros and cons of these watercraft.

In addition to the March Town Board meeting, the topic of wake enhancing watercraft was discussed at the April and May Town Board meetings as well as the Town Annual Meeting on May 5, 2025. 

After three months of regular and special meetings, input from the town's attorney, and the Wisconsin Towns Association as well as exploring how other towns in Burnett County are addressing this issue,  the Town of LaFollette Board has resolved:  

1. to table board movement on the proposed Wake Enhancing Watercraft ordinance, and

2. to address our town's concerns to our local and state elected officials and the DNR via the letters signed by the board.  Copies of these letters are available below.