In an effort to safeguard Lake Beulah’s ecosystem, a recent study urges wake boats to operate further from the shoreline and in deeper waters. This southeastern Wisconsin lake, spanning 800 acres and reaching depths up to 58 feet, has been the focus of a comprehensive evaluation conducted by Terra Vigilis Environmental Services Group.
Commissioned by the Lake Beulah Management District at a cost of $21,000, the study scrutinized the influence of various watercraft, including wake boats, water ski boats, jet boats, and pontoon boats. Findings revealed that while most recreational boats did not disturb the lake bed at depths of 15 feet or more, wake boats exhibited notable impacts even at greater depths of 15, 21, and 25 feet. Consequently, the study suggests that wake boats should maintain a distance of at least 500 feet from the shore to mitigate wave intensity comparable to those generated by faster-moving traditional boats.
Pat Bergin, chair of the Lake Beulah Management District, stated, “The findings present good reinforcement for the idea that we need to place some restrictions on the operation of (wake) surf boats and that those restrictions are in order to protect our lakes from these boats.”
However, the study has faced criticism from wake boat enthusiasts. Steve Radtke, a board member with the Wisconsin Watersports Coalition, pointed out the absence of peer review and alleged bias in the study’s design, claiming, “They developed this study with a very defined criteria: make wake boats look bad.” He further questioned the reliance on video evidence over quantitative data, saying, “We see a video and we make the inference that there’s an impact. We don’t know that.”
Study used a submersible drone, underwater cameras
To carry out their research, the group employed a submersible drone and underwater cameras to capture the effects of waves on the lake’s bed. Evidence pointed to the loss of aquatic plants, which serve as crucial habitats for fish, due to wake boats operating at depths between 15 and 25 feet. In contrast, other boats, tested at similar depths and speeds, showed no disturbance to the lake bottom.
Additionally, the study documented shoreline impacts by recording waves generated by boats passing at distances of 200 and 500 feet from the shore. Waves from wake surf boats, when 200 feet from the shore, were found to be twice as high and carried four times the energy compared to those from other boats at high planing speeds.
Radtke criticized the study for not establishing baseline data on the lake’s health, which he argues is essential for assessing potential impacts. He also noted the lack of comparison among vessels operating at equivalent speeds for activities like waterskiing or tubing.
In response to these findings, Bergin advocates for enforcing restrictions to ensure wake boats maintain a distance of over 500 feet from the shore and operate in waters at least 25 feet deep. He emphasized that the waves generated by these boats could pose safety risks to other lake users, stating, “The safety of other lake users should be a more important part of this debate.”
On Tuesday, the Lake Beulah Management District will vote on recommending an ordinance to the town of East Troy to limit wake boat operations. A public hearing on wake surfing is scheduled for Saturday.
Currently, 67 towns have enacted local ordinances regulating wake boat activities across approximately 350 lakes, as reported by the Last Wilderness Alliance. A coalition comprising 80 groups is advocating for statewide regulations, proposing that wake boats operate at least 700 feet from shore in waters no less than 30 feet deep. Supporters of wake boats and wake surfing also endorse statewide measures but suggest a 200-foot shore distance.
