Oshkosh parks advisory board denies condo request to extend no-wake zone, urges city to study ban on wakeboarding
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Summary
After residents described shoreline erosion, the Parks Advisory Board voted to deny a RiverWatch Condominium Association request to extend an Oshkosh no-wake zone but recommended that the city explore an ordinance banning wakeboarding and similar towing sports across the Fox River.
The Oshkosh Parks Advisory Board on Sept. 9 rejected a request from RiverWatch Condominium Association to extend a no-wake zone on the Fox River between the Oshkosh Avenue bridge and the Wisconsin Street bridge, but asked city staff and the City Council to study a citywide ordinance banning wakeboarding and other towing sports.
Parks staff outlined the petition and cited Wisconsin Statute 30.77 as the statutory authority that allows municipalities to set no-wake areas and buoy placement. Residents who live along the river told the board they have experienced repeated shoreline erosion, sinkholes and stone loss they attribute to boat wakes.
"We've had actual sinkholes that you could look down," said Sally Wodzinski, a RiverWatch resident, describing erosion along North Campbell Road and saying the shoreline had been washed to within 17 inches of a nearby walking path. Nancy Wilde, another resident, warned the path could fail suddenly, creating a safety risk for wheelchair users.
Business owners and marina operators opposed a full-length extension. "A slow no-wake would make it impossible to test boats that need to be repaired at the marinas," said John Cabast, manager of Cabast's Landing, and Joe Honsa, owner of Lakeside Marina, said wakeboard courses and large testing boats are a major reason for keeping some river stretches open to higher speeds.
Jeff Hager, site leader at Mercury Marine's testing plant, told the board that a full no-wake extension would add an estimated 3,600 hours a year to testing time and said Mercury Marine relies on river access for R&D and safety work.
Board discussion focused on enforcement and alternatives. Members and a retired sheriff's office representative said boat operators are legally responsible for wake damage and enforcement falls to the DNR, sheriff's department or U.S. Coast Guard; the city does not operate its own marine patrol. Several board members said a piecemeal no-wake extension may be ineffective and suggested pursuing shoreline repair grants, CIP funding for seawalls or targeted ordinances.
The advisory board voted to deny the condominium association's request to extend the no-wake zone. Members then recommended that city parks staff and the City Council investigate a comprehensive ordinance prohibiting wakeboarding, water-skiing and tubing on the river from Pioneer to Lakeshore Park and consider prohibiting "towing sports" that create large wakes.
The board's recommendation is advisory; the City Council will decide whether to introduce an ordinance. The advisory board recorded 'aye' votes from Amy Davis, Becky Metz, Jacob Plumb, Steve Herman and Devin Hudak on the recommendation to deny the extension and pursue ordinance study.
Next steps: staff said it will assess shoreline restoration options, consult engineering and investigate grant opportunities; the City Council will receive the board's recommendation and determine whether to draft a local ordinance.
