Notes from February 15th Meeting

Walworth County Lakes Association held its February meeting on Zoom, on February 16th.

Jake Schmidt. Vice President, introduced Michael Engleson, Executive Director, Wisconsin Lakes and Dan Butkus, President, Wisconsin Lakes.

Mike talked about the mission of Wisconsin Lakes, which works to promote healthy lakes by providing technical and educational resources to lake associations, advocates for sound, science-based water policy, and works with regional and statewide partners.

Wisconsin Lakes’ 2025-2026 policy goals are the state budget, Chapter 33 (lake district management) revision, aquatic plant management rulemaking, and wakesports management.

He said that in the state’s 2025-2026 biennial legislative timeline, the budget should be finished by June. General legislation will be taken up from December 2025 through March 2026.

Wisconsin Lakes goals for the budget are full funding for county conservation departments, funding the DNR, reauthorization and funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, and other water issues.

Mike also talked about the Lake Leaders program that the partnership (Wisconsin Lakes, UW Stevens Point, and the DNR, holds every other year. The next one will be in 2026 and if you’re interested, talk to Mary Knipper or Jake Schmidt. The program consists of three sessions of two days each and you will learn lake biology, policy making, and network with other lake leaders.

Wakesports Management

Wakeboard boats create enhanced waves by using ballast tanks that force the stern farther into the water, in order to create a large wake for surfing or wakeboards. These larger waves impact shorelines more than traditional boats. The waves also go deeper and stir up sediment on the bottom, as well as bring up phosphorus. There is the potential for ballast tanks to carry invasive species from one lake to another.

The Wakesports Reform Coalition is made up of almost 70 lake organizations, fishing clubs, and businesses. Their platform is to ask for state minimum standards to allow enhanced wake creation only 700’ from shore and in water deeper than 30’. Also, they are asking that local governments can enact ordinances that are stricter than the state’s. They also propose to prevent AIS transfer by requiring decontamination of ballast tanks when leaving a waterbody.

At this time, the majority party is split on the issue. The boating industry supports regulations that would not allow local control. The Wakesports Reform Coalition is waiting to see if a bill is introduced and will not support any bill that removes local control.

What can you do? Stay informed. Sign up for the Wisconsin Lakes email alerts and newsletters.

Mike’s contact information:

Michael Engleson, Executive Director

Wisconsin Lakes

PO Box 7723

Madison, WI 53707

mengleson@wisconsinlakes.org

(608) 661-4313