Trustees of the Village of Salem Lakes agreed to explore local restrictions on wake-surfing boats after a presentation on environmental and safety impacts by John Richter of the Last Wilderness Alliance and public comment from Dr. Harry Laws, treasurer of the Silver Lake Management District.

The presentation and public comment laid out scientific and local-observation evidence that modern wake-surfing boats, which run at transition speed with heavy ballast and steep stern-down trim, can scour lake bottoms, resuspend sediment and associated pollutants, damage aquatic vegetation and fish habitat, and transport aquatic invasive species in residual ballast water. Trustees asked staff and board volunteers to develop ordinance language and related implementation steps for future consideration.

John Richter, representing the Last Wilderness Alliance, told the board that wake-surf boats operate at slow speeds with the stern down, producing prop wash that can reach 20–33 feet below the surface and divergent waves up to 4.5 feet. He cited multi-year studies including work by Carroll University (North Lake) and the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (University of Minnesota) and examples from other states to summarize potential ecological harms. "Wake surfing has become the most important issue to impact our lakes, in a decade, maybe more," Richter said during his presentation.

Dr. Harry Laws, a Silver Lake resident and treasurer of the Silver Lake Management District, said local groups are prepared to enforce restrictions if the village adopts them. "We will make sure that they're enforced going forward," Laws said in public comment, and he described coordination between his lake district and the local sheriff's department for summertime enforcement.

Richter said no statewide Wisconsin requirements currently set minimum depth or distance from shore for wake surfing; coalition proposals discussed with the board recommend a combination of distance and depth limits (examples cited included a 700-foot distance from shore and a 25–30-foot minimum depth for safe operation). He and other presenters also described model local ordinances already adopted in roughly 44 townships in Wisconsin that (1) forbid equipment or operation that artificially enhances wakes (ballast tanks/bags or continuous operation at transition speed), (2) carve out exemptions for conventional water-skiing and brief transition operations, and (3) authorize local officials to issue citations under municipal law. Richter noted the DNR reviews local ordinances and a 60-day review/notice process applies when a municipality files a condition report for affected lakes.

Presenters also summarized studies and tests indicating that many modern wake boats retain residual ballast water (studies reported averages of roughly 8 gallons retained in sampled boats, with some retaining 20+ gallons), that residual water can contain live invasive organisms (zebra/quagga mussel veligers and spiny water flea), and that current boat designs make complete on-trailer drainage difficult or impossible. Richter described a decontamination ‘‘dip tank’’ technology used in other states that circulates hot water through ballast systems as an effective but costly mitigation option.

Trustees discussed practical implementation options, including a village sticker/launch-sticker program to help track and limit boat numbers, coordination with neighboring towns on identical ordinances for shared lakes, sign and buoy placement, and the DNR condition-report and review process. The board did not adopt an ordinance; trustees conveyed unanimous consensus to pursue drafting an ordinance and related measures and asked Trustee Dennis to lead the effort, with assistance from the Last Wilderness Alliance and other local lake district volunteers. No formal ordinance vote occurred at the meeting.

The meeting concluded with a routine motion to adjourn, which passed by voice vote.

Notes: The presentation referenced multiple technical studies (Carroll University North Lake study; St. Anthony Falls Lab) and DNR guidance; presenters recommended local action where state-level legislation may be delayed. The trustees requested follow-up work on ordinance language, condition-report preparation, signage requirements, and potential sticker/launch-fee administration for covered lakes.