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

Welcome
Lake Wandawega Improvement Association

Use the menu at left for bylaws, membership forms, contact information, and links to Wandawega Country Club, Interlaken Property Owners Association, and Seminole Park. This page collects lake news, DNR reminders, and resources that matter to people who live on or visit the lake. 

Town of Sugar Creek
Public Boat Launch

LWIA has attended Town of Sugar Creek board meetings to support repairs and long-term replacement of the public boat launch on Lake Wandawega. Town funding, ordinance updates, and DNR grant options all play a role in major launch projects. Grants can cover a large share of replacement costs, with the balance coming from town budgets and community support. 

For current launch hours, closures, and town recreation projects, contact the Town of Sugar Creek office or check town meeting agendas. LWIA continues to track launch needs as part of its work for safe public access on the lake. 

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 Meetings

LWIA holds semi-annual meetings at the Wandawega Country Club clubhouse at W5116 Wisconsin Drive, Elkhorn, WI 53121  (NW corner of Hwy. 12 and Wisconsin Drive).

Meetings typically open in the morning for refreshments and time to visit with neighbors, followed by association business and lake-related presentations. Dates and agenda items are announced by mail and on this site when they are set. 

To receive meeting notices, use the Join Mailing List link in the menu or contact LWIA using the information on the Contact page. 

Lake Wandawega Water Level Archive Spring 2010 - 29.50"