News & Reports
Wisconsin Water Week begins tomorrow! Water is fundamental to Wisconsin’s identity. Wisconsin Water Week is a time for everyone and anyone to learn more about what’s happening with our precious water resources and how they can be involved in protecting and restoring them. In addition to the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention in Stevens Point, Water Week offers local and regional in-person events as well as online opportunities for people to connect and engage with others on water-related issues.
The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is a government department that conveys the wisdom and influence of Wisconsin citizens in the formation of natural resource policy, research, education and conservation. Every year the WCC conducts a citizen resolution survey. If the citizen resolution can make it through the gauntlet of surveys, committee approvals and district leadership approvals, the resolution could become a state law.
An online questionnaire survey will be available through a link on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress webpage (https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing) from April 10 at noon through April 13 at noon. The link will be placed on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress webpage. Click on Spring Hearings. The online form is being run through an online survey tool. Once you sign in, simply read, and follow the directions carefully. Please consider completing the survey.
There is one advisory question on proposed changes to the muskellunge size limit. There is another question regarding bass regulations on the TFF and Trude Lake. And there are several questions regarding the use of wake boats on Wisconsin Lakes.
63. Do you support wake boats causing hazardous wakes on lakes larger than 1,500 acres to be more than 700 feet from shore or other water users? (133822)
64. Do you support prohibiting wake boats from causing hazardous wakes on lakes less than 1,500 acres? (133922)
65. Would you support the WCC and legislature working to amend existing Statutes that prohibit operation of a boat that intentionally creates a hazardous wake within 700 feet of any dock, raft, pier, buoyed restricted area, shoreline and any other watercraft? (640822)
66. Would you support the WCC and legislature creating a new state Statute that prohibits operation of a boat that intentionally creates a hazardous wake on lakes of a specific physical characteristics defined by size, depth, length and width? (640922)
67. Would you support the WCC and legislature working to amend existing Statutes to prohibit methods for intentionally magnifying wakes for wake surfing on lakes less than 1,500 acres? (641122)
SHORELINE EROSION has become an increasing concern on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage and other Wisconsin lakes. The topic of erosion was discussed in two articles in the recent issue of our newsletter Driftwood, and was mentioned as a concern by members in the 2022 survey that was conducted by our association.
A recent article in the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel discusses erosion and other potential impacts generated by the increased use of wakeboard boats in Wisconsin lakes. Here is a link to the article – https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/12/18/wisconsin-residents-seek-to-minimize-damage-to-nature-from-wake-boats/69735263007/
This video was referenced in the fall/winter 2022 issue of our newsletter the Driftwood, in an article on gentians.