Wake and Lake Health
A large wake has a negative impact on lake health. Some of the impacts are:
- Shoreline erosion.
- Impaired water quality from increased sediment in the water.
- Loss of shoreline vegetation, which helps stabilize shorelines and provides valuable habitat for fish and wildlife.
- Increase the likelihood of algae blooms in the lake.
Wakesurfing boats, also called wakeboard boats or wake boats, can be especially damaging to lake health due to their ability to generate much larger wakes. The University of Minnesota conducted a study on the wake produced by wake boats compared to other boat types. You can read the study highlights here and a news report on it here.
Please be contentious of the relationship between wake and lake health and reduce your wake.
Click here for a handout on wake, wake boats and lake health.
Helpful links:
MN DNR: Own Your Wake | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)
Sierra Club: Wake Boats in the Land of 10,000 Lakes
Wisconsin DNR: Review of Studies on Motorized Watercrafts' Effects on Aquatic Ecosystems