Ask Lyn: How Can We Protect Small Lakes from Big Wakes?

Dear Lyn,

I live on a small lake with a 10 mph speed limit, but sometimes we see wake boats creating huge waves for wake surfing. We don’t have a seawall, and neither do our neighbors. We’re all worried about the impacts of these big wakes, like our shorelines eroding into the lake. I can’t even believe wake boating on our lake is legal. Can the law be changed? Is there anything we can do to help?

Signed,

Worried About Wakes

_______

Dear Worried,

You’re not alone in your worries. The Watershed Foundation is also concerned about wake surfing and wake boating on small lakes, especially the potential impacts on water quality and aquatic ecosystems.  You’re right that those large waves can accelerate shoreline erosion. The tremendous downward thrust–especially in shallow areas–also disturbs the lake bottom, which harms habitat, and re-suspends sediment and phosphorus into the water column, which decreases water quality.

The good news? Recently proposed legislation could help protect Indiana lakes, especially small lakes, from the effects of wake boats.

What is HB1423?

State Representative Dave Abbott has introduced House Bill 1423 in the Indiana Statehouse this session to address some concerns and impacts of wake surfing.

There are 3 main components to the bill:

1. No wake boarding or wake surfing between sunset and sunrise.
2. No wake boarding or wake surfing on small lakes (70-300 acres), which generally have a 10-mph speed limit, unless a special ruling has been granted from the Natural Resources Commission. In addition, if a small lake has speed exemptions already in place (for example, skiing only between the hours of 1-4 pm), then wake boating activities must align to the same hours as a speed boat.
3. No wake surfing behind a boat with an exposed propeller (an outboard motor, for example).

What would the bill mean for our watershed?

If HB1423 were to pass as written, here’s how it would affect lakes in our watershed:

• We would NOT see major changes on the larger high-speed boating lakes in our area, including Lakes Tippecanoe, Little Tippy, Webster, Wawasee, Syracuse, Winona, Big Chapman, Dewart, and Big Barbee–except for not surfing at night or behind an outboard.
• Wake surfing and wake boarding would NOT be permitted on the smaller lakes that have 10 mph speed limits, including Pike, Center, Ridinger, Waubee, most of the Barbee Chain of Lakes in Kosciusko County, as well as Old, New, Goose, and Crooked Lakes in Whitley and Noble Counties.
• Two lakes in our watershed have special speed exemptions. Big Lake and Loon Lake in Whitley and Noble Counties are small lakes that have a 10 mph speed limit most of the time, but they allow skiing and other high-speed boating activities from 1-4pm each day. If this bill were to pass, wake surfing and wake boarding would only be permitted on these lakes during these same times.

Overall, we believe these proposed changes will have a positive effect in our watershed and beyond! They’ll reduce the ecological impact of wake boating activities, especially in smaller lakes, and will help make our waters safer for all to enjoy.

What can you do to help?

You can contact Representative Shane Lindauer, the Indiana House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee Chair. The first step in passing a law is for the bill to get a hearing in the committee to which it has been assigned. Urge Representative Lindauer to give this bill (HR1423) a hearing. Tell him why this issue matters to you, and ask him to give it a chance to be heard and voted upon. This is urgent! The last day to hear a bill in committee is February 12.

You can also share your story. If the bill gets a hearing in the Natural Resources Committee, then we need people to go to the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis and share their stories! If you would be willing to talk for just a few minutes about why this issue is important for your family and your lake, please sign up here. TWF will reach out to let you know if a hearing has been scheduled. Be aware that if this opportunity arises, we are often only given one or two days’ notice.

I understand your concerns, Worried, and I’m optimistic this proposed legislation can help. I personally believe this bill offers a measured and reasonable approach to the safety concerns and ecological damage being done by some wake boats and wake surfing on some Indiana lakes.

If you’d like to learn more about this issue, check out these resources, and reach out to us with any other questions.

Thanks for your willingness to take action not just for your lake, but for healthy lakes throughout our state!

Lyn