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| News Release: Wisconsin’s Green Fire Publishes Updated Report on “The Effects of Wake Boats on Lake Ecosystem Health” |
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May 13, 2024
RHINELANDER, WI –
As summer approaches, lake users—including wake boaters—are making waves on lakes around the state. Yet, without clear statewide guidance, many communities are still struggling to balance recreation and the health of their lakes. Diving into the science of how wake boats effect lake ecosystem health, conservation nonprofit Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF) has prepared an updated report. This new literature review builds on information in an earlier version published in February 2024.
WGF’s report “The Effects of Wake Boats on Lake Ecosystem Health: A Literature Review,” compiles findings from over 200 scientific studies. While there is a great need for additional research specifically about wake boats, this literature review indicates several negative effects from wake boat use in lakes. These include spreading aquatic invasive species, increasing shoreline erosion, damaging aquatic plants, resuspending sediments (thereby worsening water quality), and negatively impacting birds and fish. |
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| “The Effects of Wake Boats on Lake Ecosystem Health: A Literature Review” published by Wisconsin’s Green Fire in May 2024 |
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| David Ortiz, lead author of the literature review, presents at the North Lakeland Woods and Water Conference in Manitowish Waters, May 3, 2024 |
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| Editor of the report, Carolyn Pralle, said, “With this updated report, we brought together as much relevant scientific information as we could to help communities make science-informed decisions to protect their lakes.”
The full report is available on the WGF website, alongside a summary of changes from the original version published in February 2024. Importantly, human safety and recreational impacts are not within the scope of either version of this literature review.
Read the full report: https://wigreenfire.org/wake-boats-lakes-update-may-2024. |
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Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF) is a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to science-based management of natural resources.
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