A much stronger proposal to limit wake surfing bill is circulating in the Wisconsin Legislature

A bill to provide stronger controls over wake-enhanced boating is being circulated for signatures in the Wisconsin Legislature.

The proposal is authored by Sen. Andres Jacque (R-De Pere) and would prohibit the operation of a "motorboat causing a hazardous wake" on a lake smaller than 1,500 acres.

Further, on lakes 1,500 acres or larger, the bill would require wake-enhanced boats to operate at least 700 feet from the shoreline and at least 700 feet from any boat, swimmer, or other water user.

More:Outdoors calendar

The measure defines "hazardous wake" as a boat wake the height of which is intentionally amplified through the use of ballast, boat design features or operational procedures. 

The proposal, LRB 5069/1, is out for co-sponsorship through Thursday. It then will likely receive a bill number.

As written it is more restrictive than two wake surfing bills introduced last month.

Assembly Bill 656 and Senate Bill 680 would prevent wake sports from lakes of 50 acres or less and from operating within 200 feet from shore. They would also nullify more restrictive local ordinances on wake surfing.

The bills, introduced by Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) and Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma), have been assigned to committees but have yet to have a hearing.

The proposals are very similar to wake surfing laws passed recently in Georgia and Tennessee and are backed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the Water Sports Industry Association.

However Wisconsinites who prefer stronger regulations more in line with LRB 5069/1 turned out in droves to November listening sessions held in northern Wisconsin by Felzkowski and Swearingen.

Wake boats are power craft with special ballast tanks designed to increase their displacement and create larger than normal waves for surfing or tubing. Several thousand pounds of lake water are commonly taken into the tanks to increase the wake.

As use of wake boats has increased in recent years, so have concerns over damage the waves and engine thrust can cause to lakes as well as conflicts with other recreational users.

In addition the ballast tanks are very difficult or impossible to drain, leading to concerns over transfer of aquatic invasive species as the boats are moved between water bodies.

At the 2023 Wisconsin Conservation Congress spring hearings all six advisory questions calling for additional restrictions or prohibitions on wake boats were supported by large majorities.

And this year a non-profit group called Lakes At Stake Wisconsin formed with the sole purpose of getting stronger regulations over wake-enhanced boating.