No Wake Zone

[walleyeking19]

With all this rain we've gotten this summer, the lake we live on is the highest I've ever seen in the 15 years I've lived here. The water is now over our 4 ft tall retaining wall and is starting to take my grass away.

Thankfully, the DNR has issued a no wake zone 100 yards out from shore. For the most part, people are following the rules and staying out. But a few nights ago, we had a guy almost hit our swim raft while pulling a tuber. (our raft is exactly 33 yards from shore. I've ranged it) We got out on the dock and called the kid in and talked to him. He seemed apologetic and stayed way out after that.

I'm just wondering what the best way to deal with guys who are too close. I havent seen the DNR out there enforcing it, so I feel its in the homeowners hands to enforce it. I've got a few boat numbers, but I havent called them in yet. Is that the most efficient and productive way to stop people from doing it? Thanks.

[Fishjet]

Some people have no clue how far out 100 yards is, or just don't care. We on the north side have a different deal. When the lake went over top of the beach our shore is 200 feet closer to the house.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Some people are terrible at estimating ranges and others just don't care.

[chasineyes]

Which was there first...the lake or your house? Quit complaining. I personally think NO-WAKE is a joke. Nobody forced you to build on a public lake that has existed for thousands or years while rising and falling as mother nature see fit.

[TruthWalleyes]

Which was there first...the lake or your house? Quit complaining. I personally think NO-WAKE is a joke. Nobody forced you to build on a public lake that has existed for thousands or years while rising and falling as mother nature see fit.

I get a out of 'no wake' when your out there putz'n around, and the wind is blowing 30mph... and the waves are bigger than your boat can put out.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Which was there first...the lake or your house? Quit complaining. I personally think NO-WAKE is a joke. Nobody forced you to build on a public lake that has existed for thousands or years while rising and falling as mother nature see fit.

Do I sense a little jealousy here? Don't hold back, how do you really feel?

[Wayne Ek]

Which was there first...the lake or your house? Quit complaining. I personally think NO-WAKE is a joke. Nobody forced you to build on a public lake that has existed for thousands or years while rising and falling as mother nature see fit.

He was complaining about the violation of the law and a dangerous boating practice.

[Ufatz]

A No Wake zone is no more a "joke" than a No Passing lane on the highway or a Speed Limit posting. It is/was established by a public body which is charged, among other things, with protecting public safety and YOUR life. The Zone would not be there it that agency did not feel there was a realistic NEED for it.

What IS a joke are people operating watercraft without knowledge of safe boating practices or regard for posted rules of the road. A No Wake Zone is same thing as an obstruction marking buoy or navigation buoy.

Disregard one of THOSE traveling at high speed and the "joke" is on you!!

[kg2]

It certainly is no more up to a lakefront homeowner to enforce this law than it is up to me to enforce the speed/noise laws when someone goes by my house at mach 1.

I don't recommend taking the law into your own hands.

[reinhard1]

i agree that no wake zones are there for safety reasons not someones property. good luck.

[Down Deep]

My opinion is that any boater traveling a a high speed ought to stay away from property or other boats. On most lakes there is a lot of area for people to run fast and pull the tubes. I have a respect for other peoples property.

On the other hand the lake does not belong to the cabin owners. One of my pet peeves are property owners that can't resist giving me a dirty look when I troll by while casting their dock or shoreline.

[chasineyes]

i agree that no wake zones are there for safety reasons not someones property. good luck.

Can you please explain?? Boats create wake, unless you can somehow build one that doesn't? So if cars traveling on a gravel road make dust, should we post a 5 MPH zone? How about No Wakeboarding? Ever seen those waves?

I'm confused what safety are we talking about??

This is simply implemented because folks on Minnetonka, Prior, St. Croix we're complaining through their "Association" to have this in place to protect their beach. Waterskiing has been around for 50 or 60 years so wakes have been "created" for a long time.

[TruthWalleyes]

Doesn't the wind create just as large of a wave as the boats on these bodies of water?

[RiverFish]

Any scientific studies out there that show no wake zones reduce property/shoreline damage?

[reinhard1]

i know all about no wake zone's for i got a ticket for going through one on the st. croix. i was following a bigger boat going slow i thought but i was pulled over and the big yacht didn't. i also know of no wake zones in a lake around here where there is no saftey issue but it was a shoreling that the dnr wanted to protect from errosion to also protect spawning habitat.

there are no wake zones for example between chisago and lindstrom in the channel. these are for safety reasons due to the boat landing being there and traffic bettween the lakes. so there are many reasons for a no wake zone but i have no knowledge where they were put there to protect anyones personal property. now there may be spawning areas around or within someones shorelines the dnr wants to protect but that would be my guess.

i think most no wake zones usualy are around high traffic areas or fragile shorelines that need to be protected as much as possible. yes i know all about waves, wind, and the rest but i have no problem with the zones and believe they are there for a reason. good luck.

[TruthWalleyes]

i know all about no wake zone's for i got a ticket for going through one on the st. croix. i was following a bigger boat going slow i thought but i was pulled over and the big yacht didn't. i also know of no wake zones in a lake around here where there is no saftey issue but it was a shoreling that the dnr wanted to protect from errosion to also protect spawning habitat.

there are no wake zones for example between chisago and lindstrom in the channel. these are for safety reasons due to the boat landing being there and traffic bettween the lakes. so there are many reasons for a no wake zone but i have no knowledge where they were put there to protect anyones personal property. now there may be spawning areas around or within someones shorelines the dnr wants to protect but that would be my guess.

i think most no wake zones usualy are around high traffic areas or fragile shorelines that need to be protected as much as possible. yes i know all about waves, wind, and the rest but i have no problem with the zones and believe they are there for a reason. good luck.

The OP is questioning the 'no wake' due to high water...

[Nick Kuhn]

They are put in place so that motors don't disturb lake bed that would otherwise be too shallow to stir up with a motor. A lot of lakes have phosphorus problems, and motors in shallow water are responsible for up to 10% of the phosphorus in our lakes. Not to mention who knows how many rocks/downed trees are in that close to shore area.

[Ufatz]

Hey Riverfish:

No wake zones are common in areas where repeated heavy wakes DO cause bank/beach erosion. I cannot direct you to a "scientific study" on the matter but it is a well established and recognized problem especially in restricted waters. The Intracoastal Waterways along the Gulf and Florida coasts for example are well posted. And bank/beach erosion is harmful to lake habitat along with the destruction it CAN cause to waterfront property.

In the case at hand, it takes little imagination to understand the damage that will be done by large boats with big outboards making repeated runs past very shallow areas only recently covered with water.

The Great Spirit has ways to provide teachable moments for those who run shallow and fast. Can you say: smashed lower unit and bent prop??

[RiverFish]

Ufatz,

Thanks for the info, I guess I was looking at a study maybe comparing the natural waves/wind in situations like this compared to boat wake.

It is easier to sell your point when something has been looked at or studied in a scientific matter.

[skolvikesallday]

While I agree that there is a time and place for no wake zones, I also think they can get out of hand and are unrealistic in many cases.

For example on Pool 6 of the Mississippi near winona there are several no wake zones on the MAIN CHANNEL.

In front of the levee and in front of the local boat club.

I think its a joke because when a barge goes by on the MAIN CHANNEL you know he is gonna make a HUGE wake. Its what barges do. So I have no problem driving by at full speed in my 14 ft boat, because me wake is 1/4 that of a barge or even a large cruiser going 3mph. Ive yet to see a barge stopped by the DNR for creating a large wake in a no wake zone, even though they do it on a daily basis.

That said, I have yelled at people in my harbor for going too fast and rocking the boathouses... but that is well off the main channel in a bay that was dredged 70 years ago to create the harbor.

Basically my thinking is if you are on the main channel or main part of a lake, you are gonna get waves and wake, be it from wind, large boats, whatever. If you are in a smaller bay or harbor then I agree people need to have a little respect.

[itchmesir]

While I agree that there is a time and place for no wake zones, I also think they can get out of hand and are unrealistic in many cases.

For example on Pool 6 of the Mississippi near winona there are several no wake zones on the MAIN CHANNEL.

In front of the levee and in front of the local boat club.

I think its a joke because when a barge goes by on the MAIN CHANNEL you know he is gonna make a HUGE wake. Its what barges do. So I have no problem driving by at full speed in my 14 ft boat, because me wake is 1/4 that of a barge or even a large cruiser going 3mph. Ive yet to see a barge stopped by the DNR for creating a large wake in a no wake zone, even though they do it on a daily basis.

That said, I have yelled at people in my harbor for going too fast and rocking the boathouses... but that is well off the main channel in a bay that was dredged 70 years ago to create the harbor.

Basically my thinking is if you are on the main channel or main part of a lake, you are gonna get waves and wake, be it from wind, large boats, whatever. If you are in a smaller bay or harbor then I agree people need to have a little respect.

concrete Levees are not nearly as strong as natural earthen levees.. living in Winona.. knowing that there is a No Wake zone in front of the levee is a good thing.. sure a half dozen or so barges come through the area sometimes daily.. but there are plenty more boats than barges on the river... If the levees life can be lengthened by having boaters slow down so that the waves don't crash and wear away at the concrete.. I feel more secure.. and so should anyone else that lives in Winona.. knowing that if at any time that levee was to break.. that our town would be destroyed... Also the levee is a docking area.. I dunno about you.. but im sure anyone else that would dock their boat there would really appreciate it if they didn't see their boat getting slammed and rocked because a boater thinks that HIS way is better.. people feel this way on the roads too.. it often leads to property damage.. crashes.. or death.. but you know.. their way is the right way

[RumRiverRat]

Which was there first...the lake or your house? Quit complaining. I personally think NO-WAKE is a joke. Nobody forced you to build on a public lake that has existed for thousands or years while rising and falling as mother nature see fit.

You cannot be serious!!!!!!

[mainbutter]

Doesn't the wind create just as large of a wave as the boats on these bodies of water?

If they did, then I would not be able to see or feel a wake.

[GlassEyeangler]

boy you said it RumRiverRat...wow, i cannot believe a reaction like that! aside from being the law - what about class, or the lack thereof? my family and i really enjoy looking at the beautiful landscaped shorelines, and on more than one instance i have told homeowners how nice their yard is. just obey the no wake zone and be done with it!

[itchmesir]

If someones property is close enough to a body of water for a wake to do damage... i think the overall planning of the house being built is the bigger issue.. not the wake or lack there of...