Salem Lakes trustees agree to explore wake-surfing restrictions after public presentation

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…