Wisconsin Lakes - Protecting Wisconsin's Lakes

We Speak for Lakes

Lake Policy

VOTE FOR SAFER SMALL LAKES WITH QUESTION 50 OF WI CONSERVATION CONGRESS SPRING HEARINGS

Question #50 before the Spring Hearings of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress asks the legislature to make boating on small lakes safer by allowing boating in excess of slow-no-wake speeds only on lakes with 50 or more acres not currently restricted to slow-no-wake. This would increase the range of lakes deemed entirely “slow-no-wake” from lakes smaller than 50 acres to those smaller than 64 acres. The Spring Hearings are being conducted in an online format in 2020 because of the COVID-19 crisis and stay-at-home orders, with voting underway and running until 7:00pm, Thursday, April 16, 2020.

COVID-19 AND LAKES

As you hopefully know by now and are following, the State of Wisconsin is under a statewide “stay at home” order which prohibits unnecessary travel. In addition, many counties in Wisconsin with a large number of seasonal residents have issued advisories requesting non-full time residents to stay away if possible and self-quarantine themselves for fifteen days if they do come. Wisconsin Lakes recommends checking with your lake organization or county government for the latest updates.

We’ll be providing updates on how the crisis is impacting lakes right here and through our emails and other communications. From what’s happening to DNR lake-related programs to best practices of how to govern your lake organizations, count on us for information and advocacy.

Read all of our COVID-19 related posts here

From all of us at Wisconsin Lakes, we hope you stay safe and healthy through this difficult time.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact Updates

NEW! WEBINAR UPDATE: LAKE ORGANIZATIONS

On Thursday, May 21 at 4:00pm, join WI Lakes Exec Director Mike Engleson and UW-Extension Lakes Program Director Eric Olson for an update and discussion on how the Supreme Court’s invalidation of the statewide health emergency orders impacts lake organization decisions and programs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

LAKE ORGANIZATION MEETINGS IN A TIME OF CRISIS

The ongoing pandemic and “stay at home” orders continue to throw chaos and uncertainty into many aspects of our lives both personally and professionally. Unfortunately, lake organization governance is no exception.

We Speak for Lakes!

Wisconsin Lakes, formerly known as the Wisconsin Association of Lakes, is the only statewide non-profit organization working exclusively to protect and enhance the quality of Wisconsin’s 15,000 lakes. For more than 20 years, Wisconsin Lakes has worked toward statewide solutions for the challenges faced by our abundant natural water resources while supporting strong local protection efforts. We represent citizens and lake groups like you who care about Wisconsin’s lakes as a shared resource, and who appreciate the value lakes bring to our quality of life, tourist economy, and property tax base. Wisconsin Lakes seeks to protect the natural wonder of our lakes, and preserve our collective right to boat, fish, hunt, ice skate, swim and enjoy the scenic beauty of our shared public waters.

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