28 Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Groups Among Diverse Coalition Opposition Now in the Thousands of Voters
Madison… An assembly bill, Assembly Bill (AB) 1033, dealing with wake-enhanced boating has drawn the opposition from the largest coalition in Wisconsin’s history focused on protecting Wisconsin’s lakes.
The opposition consists of thousands of Wisconsin voters and is focused on protecting Wisconsin’s lakes from the impact of wake-enhanced boating. Wake boats are powerful enough to create 5-foot waves and can cost upwards of $500,000. The legislation is strongly supported by the powerful wake boat lobby.
Assembly Bill 1033 now has additional opposition from the Wisconsin Towns Association, League of Municipalities, and other groups concerned about the legislation, bringing the number opposed to the bill to 100 groups.
Cody Kamrowski, Executive Director of Wisconsin Wildlife Federation stated, “More than two dozen outdoors and sportsmen groups oppose Assembly Bill 1033 and only the wake boat industry supports the bill, I hope Wisconsin legislators vote with the people of Wisconsin, and not the wake boat industry who not only can’t say Oconomowoc, but would have no idea where it is located in our great state.
Assembly Bill 1033 has no language dealing with the depth of lakes. A major concern of the coalition is how these powerful boats destroy the bottom of shallow lakes, destroying fish beds and stirring up silt. The Town of Scott is currently being sued because they banned wake enhanced boating on Birch Isle Lake which is only 13 feet in the deepest part of the lake. The bill calls for 300 feet from shore, which is way too close to shore based on numerous studies.
Seventy-Six Wisconsin towns have passed ordinances to prohibit or restrict wake enhanced boating on Wisconsin’s glacial lakes. Assembly Bill 1033 is silent on the issue of local control.
Assembly Bill 1033 was introduced Monday of last week, had a hearing and voted out of committee last Wednesday along party lines with seven Republicans voting for the bill and all three Democrats voting against the bill.
“This coalition is large, with groups from the left, right and everyone in the middle working together to stop this legislation that does little to protect Wisconsin’s pristine lakes. If supporters of this bill were serious about protecting local control, they would provide indemnity for Wisconsin’s small towns from the powerful wake boat industry,” stated Dr. Fred Prehn, a well-known conservative activist.
People are strongly encouraged to contact their legislators by clicking on this link and putting in your address. Once done, it will give you the name, phone number and email of your State Senator and State Representative. WSL – Find Your Legislator
