A coalition of environmental groups, including Manitowoc County Fish and Game, is opposing one bill in the Wisconsin Legislature while supporting another.
Lakes at State Wisconsin, made up of 90 groups statewide, announced their strong opposition to Assembly Bill 1033, which they say threatens Wisconsin’s shoreline, fishing, and waterways.
The bill would prohibit wakeboarding in most cases; however, it would be allowed if a motorboat is operated more than 200 feet from a shoreline.
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Executive Director Cody Kamarowski says that would make boats, “way too close to the shoreline, NO depth requirement, NO protections for Wisconsin towns. Wisconsin’s waters deserve better.”
The bill Lakes at State Wisconsin supports would mandate that wake-enhanced boating be 500 feet from a shoreline, wake-enhanced boating must be done at depths of 20 feet or more, and protect local towns from lawsuits from the “wake boat industry and their allies.”
That bill has the support of State Senator Andre Jacque of New Franken and was authored by State Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara of Fox Crossing.
The coalition also asks residents to call their state representatives to make sure they vote against AB 1033.
