The Tomahawk Lake Association (TLA) is committed to keeping members aware of news that impacts Tomahawk Lake. Below is a round up of recent state news pertinent to lakes statewide. While the TLA is not taking a stance on these items, we encourage you to learn more about what these laws mean for you.
Statewide slow no wake zone signed into law
On Friday, July 10, Governor Jim Doyle signed a bill (SB 12) that establishes a statewide slow no wake zone for motorboats within 100 feet of a lake’s shoreline. The new law will take effect seven months after official publication.
The new law establishes a statewide slow-no-wake speed zone extending 100 feet from the shoreline, while balancing different local recreational uses with natural resource needs by enabling extension or reduction of slow no wake zones through local boating ordinances.
Wisconsin’s shoreland zoning rules to be updated
On Wednesday, June 24, the state Natural Resources Board approved several amendments to Wisconsin’s shoreland zoning rule (NR 115). The forty-year-old shoreland development standards for unincorporated areas – those areas outside city and village boundaries – are being updated with the intention of improving lake and river protection, providing more flexibility for property owners, and streamlining permitting.
The next step is for DNR to submit the rules to the Legislature’s standing committees and the committees may hold hearings or take some other actions. The revised shoreland development standards are expected to go into effect by the end of 2009, and counties will have two years to update their ordinances to reflect the new standards.
For more information on government activities, visit www.wisconsinlakes.org or www.dnr.wi.gov
For no wake zone information: http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/policy_shorelands.htm#slow
For NR 115 Information: http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/policy_shorelands.htm#nr115 or http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/dsfm/shore/news.htm
