Wake boats, while an increasingly popular way to enjoy Michigan’s inland lakes, can have potentially harmful impacts, including shoreline erosion, damage to shoreline structures, bottomland/vegetation degradation, and destruction of fisheries.
Michigan lawmakers are considering a bill that would require watercraft in “wake sport” mode to be 500 feet or more from a shore or dock at a depth of 20 feet or more. HB 5532, which requires the distances and depths mentioned above, was introduced on Feb. 28 by Michigan State House Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo), with bipartisan support. It is awaiting a committee hearing in the House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Committee. Similar legislation already exists or is being researched in several other states.
The bill addresses concerns about damage from augmented boat wakes that can be caused during wakeboarding or wakesurfing. Both sports require boats producing powerful wakes by displacing water. These are typically lightweight boats with deep V-shaped hulls, engines over 350 horsepower and ballast systems to strengthen the wake.
Balancing recreation and the environment
Melissa DeSimone, executive director of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association (MLSA), emphasizes that the point of the bill is not to remove fun or enjoyment from Michigan’s lakes.
“It has never been the position of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association that wake boats shouldn’t happen, just that we need to make sure we consider the environmental and social impacts thoroughly so there is no lasting damage to our lakes and streams for future generations,” DiSimone wrote on the organization’s website.
The distance from shoreline required under HB 5532 is based on scientific studies related to shoreline erosion and sediment deposition, which can be accelerated by strong wakes. Diverging waves do not significantly decrease in size or intensity until they are 500-1,000 feet from the hull, according to a comprehensive study published in 2022 by the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) at the University of Minnesota. Such waves occur when watercraft purposely generate large, high-energy waves for surfing and jumping.
Analyzing such studies on the topic, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) made the recommendation to restrict activity based on the water quality concerns, including damage to shorelines, bottomlands and fish habitat to the legislature in 2023. In addition to concerns about fishery impact, the increase in wave action can potentially cause safety issues for other boaters and recreational activities on lakes. Furthermore, the DNR states that ballast tanks should be completely drained prior to transporting the watercraft over land to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and pathogens. Read the DNR’s full report here.
Other states addressing wake boats
Michigan is not the only state addressing the potential environmental impacts of wake boats.
Vermont, for example, recently enacted what officials in that state consider the most protective state-wide wake sports rule in the U.S. Vermont’s rule limits any watercraft from operating in “wake sport” mode unless it is done in a clearly identified “wake sports zone.” The key requirements for such a zone are the same as those proposed in HB 5532 -- water depth of at least 20 feet, and at least 500 feet from shoreline. A wake bill also was recently introduced in Wisconsin.
Why is wake boat regulation gaining momentum now? The design of a wake boat is unlike any other vessel used on inland lakes and streams when boating laws were first adopted. According to the MLSA, there was no way to predict the need for regulation changes, much like when personal watercraft became popular and spurred specific regulation. The Michigan Waterfront Association, which supports HB 5532, concurs that current state laws pertaining to safe watercraft operation are outdated when it comes to wake boats.
Wake Boat Operators' Best Practices for Boats in "Wake Sport" Mode
- Do not operate within a minimum of 500 feet of the shoreline.
- Do not operate in water less than 20 feet deep.
- Avoid operating near shorelines or sandbars.
- Have a forward-looking spotter to observe obstacles, paddlers, swimmers, boats, etc.
- Avoid turning in tight circles, as doing so will increase wave height and frequency.
- Drain ballast tanks prior to transporting the boat over land and especially before entering a different water body.
Whether you use a wake boat our not, also remember that for all boats Michigan Law states that "a person shall maintain a distance of 100 feet from any dock, boat, raft, buoyed or occupied swimming area while driving at other than slow - no wake speed."
Where to use wake boats on Lake Leelanau – an interactive map
Although not yet law, operating wake boats at least 500 feet or more from a shore or dock, at a depth of 20 feet or more will help reduce the environmental impacts of wake boats. To better understand this distance from the shoreline, consider that a football field is about 300 feet long – so the recommended distance is nearly the length of two football fields.
Given the varying widths and depths of Lake Leelanau, the LLLA has provided maps of where “wake sport” mode should occur to be protective of fisheries, shorelines and bottomlands. The LLLA encourages wake boaters to use this map to ensure they enjoy their watercraft without posing threats to shoreline or underwater habitats.
You can also view the interactive map here.
Further resources on wake boat research and concerns
Lake Leelanau Wake Boats: Making Waves Responsibly
Sources for the above article include the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, Michigan Legislature, Michigan Waterfront Alliance, and others.