Lake Wandawega Improvement Association P.O. Box 902 Elkhorn, WI  53121

8/12/2010
Town of Sugar Creek Public Boat Launch Update

The Town Board is receptive, but funding is not included in their current budget. As a result, the Town is proceeding on amending an ordinance to make funds from their Trail and Park Fund available for other public recreational needs of town residents. Boat launches would be included in an amended ordinance. Any amended ordinance would have to be posted for public comments and a hearing prior to a board vote. There is still a fair amount of work the Town has to go before reaching the public comment phase, but we are making progress in getting the launch repairs made this year. The next Town Board Meeting will be on August 16th at 7:00 PM. 

The Town Board also appears willing to pursue a complete replacement of the launch if they can obtain a DNR grant. Grants are available to cover up to 50% of the cost for replacing the launch, but the Town would have to come up with the other 50%. It may be necessary for LWIA to solicit donations from the community

Illegal To Transport Aquatic Invasives

Last year, NR 40 and SB 123, which rewrites s.30.715 to be consistent with NR40, was signed into law by the governor and established a consistent and comprehensive classification and regulatory system for all listed invasive species. 

Any law enforcement officer will be able to enforce these provisions with the use of a DNR citation, or a Uniform Traffic Citation. 

With regards to what this means for aquatic invasive species, and you, the law prohibits: 

1) The transportation of any vehicle, including boats and trailers, on a public highway with aquatic plants or aquatic animals attached, and 

2) Require removal of aquatic plants and aquatic animals and draining of all water from any such vehicles or equipment immediately upon removal from the water and before leaving any boat launch or parking area, and 

3) Prohibit the placing of any boat, vehicle or equipment into waters of the state (statewide) if they have any aquatic plants or aquatic animals attached.

All boats required to operate at
slow-no-wake within 100 feet of shoreline!

MADISON – A new boating rule in Wisconsin is designed to make lakes safer while protecting shorelines and improving water quality. The law prohibits boaters from operating their boats at speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 100 feet of lake shorelines. The law applies to all lakes, including the lake areas of flowages. 

“The law will make it safer for people wading, swimming or fishing near shore, and it should help reduce conflicts between near-shore recreationists and boaters,” said Scott Bowe, a Department of Natural Resources conservation warden in Chippewa County. 

Moreover, boats operating in shallow waters often churn up sediment and chop up vegetation, decreasing water quality, and potentially spreading invasive aquatic species like Eurasian water-milfoil. Slowing these boats will reduce this problem. In addition, eliminating near shore wakes will reduce shoreline erosion. 

This change is in addition to current law which already prohibits boaters on lakes from operating at speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 100 feet of docks, rafts, piers and buoyed restricted areas. 

Personal watercraft (PWC) operators must also follow these laws in addition to speed restrictions that apply specifically to PWCs. PWC operators cannot operate at a speed greater than slow-no-wake within 200 feet of the shoreline of any lake. They also are required to cut back to slow-no-wake speed when passing within 100 feet of other boats, including other PWCs. This law applies to both rivers and lakes. 

Slow-no-wake is defined as the minimum speed required to maintain steerage. Speed violations are the primary source of boating complaints in the summer. Speed is also a frequent cause of boat crashes, especially at night, Bowe said. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Conservation Warden Scott Bowe, Chippewa Falls, (715) 239-6586 or communications specialist Ed Culhane, (715) 839-3715

DNR launches tip411 Anonymous Text
Program To Report Violations

MADISON -- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has added a text messaging option to ways the public can report hunting, fishing, trapping, recreational vehicle and environmental violations. DNR is launching tip411, an internet based tool that enables the public to text message an anonymous tip to DNR. Hotline operators respond back creating a two-way anonymous “chat.” 

According to Chief Conservation Warden Randy Stark, “People in Wisconsin have a deeply ingrained conservation ethic. The public plays a critical role in our efforts to protect our natural resources. This new capability creates an additional way for the public to quickly, easily, and anonymously report violations.”

Anyone with a cell phone with texting service can now send an anonymous tip to Wisconsin DNR from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. by texting the word TIPWDNR and the tip information to 847-411 (tip411). 

“The ability to text violations will be in addition to the 24 hours a day/ 7 days per week confidential telephone tip line we operate to report suspected or observed illegal activity. The number is easy to remember, 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367 or cell#367),” Stark says. “Whenever you need to report an emergency, however, please telephone us so we can respond right away.”

LWIA Semi-Annual Meeting
Saturday, November 6, 2010

LWIA's semi-annual meeting will be held on Saturday, November 6th at the WCC clubhouse located at W5116 Wisconsin Drive, Elkhorn, WI 53121  (NW corner of Hwy. 12 and Wisconsin Drive).

Doors will open at 9:15 AM for refreshments and some time to chat with friends and neighbors. Meeting will start at 10:00 AM

Agenda items for the meeting to be announced.

Lake Wandawega Water Level as of 5/10/10 - 29.50"