MCLA Membership meeting February 21, 2019

MCLA Membership meeting February 21, 2019

The meeting was held starting at 6:30 at the County Office building in Manitowoc.

President Tom Ward introduced the MCLA Executive committee and Gene Weyer as the first presenter.

Gene initiated the MCLA water quality monitoring program for the past number of years to create a data base on our county lakes. Gene has recruited volunteers to help with the seasonal water quality sampling and secured funds from DNR and other donations to pay for the sampling. Gene shared his data by lake and displayed the data available thru the DNR website SWIMS for each lake, encouraging people to view the information.

We have a number of lakes that are in good shape, however others are showing signs of degradation or internal cycling of phosphorus that is affecting their water quality. Lakes with declining water quality are encouraged to develop a Lake Management Plan.

Guest speaker was Darren Kuhn, DNR Conservation Warden, currently assigned to the Recreation Warden Team which is responsible for the training of the municipal boat, snowmobile and ATV patrols.  Warden Kuhn responded to questions from the audience regarding creating local boating ordinances, specifically to deal with mirrors on ski boats and PFD use.  He addressed legal issues as well as explaining the boating ordinance process and getting State approval to boating ordinances.

Warden Kuhn explained the ordinance-making process and the fact that the DNR has review authority over all the boating ordinances.  However, the DNR can’t tell a township that they can’t pass an ordinance, except the DNR will put in it writing if a proposed ordinance would not meet state or Federal boating standards.  There is a DNR ordinance creation manual (https://dnr.wi.gov/files/PDF/pubs/le/LE0317.pdf) to assist in the ordinance process. He also discussed examples of ordinances that the DNR would not support, as well as ordinances that the DNR would support. Ordinances can’t ban boat size or horse power. If the ordinance is more restrictive than state law a report needs to be submitted identifying the problem and need for the restriction.

He talked about the importance of life jackets and the law requiring life jackets to be Coast Guard approved, readily acceptable and of the proper size but there is not a requirement to wear life jackets on inland waters.  The DNR strongly encourages all boaters to wear their life jackets.  When on Federal waters, as on Lake Michigan, all people 12 and younger are required by Federal Law to wear their life jackets when the boat is under way, and if they are on deck.

He explained about boat lights and the requirements to have a boat light on when operating during hours of darkness. Water ski/tubing laws, specifically distances from shore, and the new law relating to mirrors replacing the observer requirement were reviewed. Anybody under the age of 34 has to have passed ‘boater safety’ to operate a boat. Classes are online, and require 10 hours of training.

Anyone with questions can call Warden Kuhn at 920-615-6075.