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Residents press DNR and OLMD over rental boat slips and pier decking; DNR points to backlog
Summary
Several Okauchee Lake residents told the OLMD meeting Aug. 28 that rental properties with multiple boat slips create congestion and nuisance conditions; a DNR warden said enforcement is prioritized and reported a backlog of roughly 460 complaints, and residents were directed to file formal complaints online or via a hotline.
Multiple residents raised concerns about rental properties and growing mini-marina operations along Okauchee Lake at the Aug. 28, 2023 OLMD annual meeting, and DNR staff outlined how complaints are handled.
Richard Koch and William Grey described nearby properties that rent boats and add slips, saying the activity creates crowding, parking and nuisance problems that affect adjacent homeowners. Koch said rental boats and frequent overnight guests have caused repeated disruptions; Grey said a neighbor had added about 11 rental boat slips on roughly 250 feet of frontage.
Mitch Grenier, a retired conservation warden speaking about DNR enforcement, said the agency prioritizes the most dangerous problems and that some mini-marinas are low on the enforcement list. "There are 460 complaints right now that they have yet to go through," he said. Grenier explained that docks or slip configurations that existed before April 15, 2012 are grandfathered; if a property increases pier square footage it can lose grandfathered status. He advised residents to file a complaint at the DNR online form (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WWcomplaint) or call the hotline at 1-800-847-9367 to report suspected violations.
Residents asked whether OLMD can act; board members said OLMD participates in water-quality programs (Lake Country Clean Waters and the Oconomowoc Watershed program) and has limited enforcement authority compared with the DNR. Several residents sought clearer local remedies; the meeting recorded concerns but did not produce any immediate enforcement action.
The meeting also included a Town of Oconomowoc Police report on the Okauchee Lake tie-up: Officer Andrew Williams said year-to-date 2023 patrol hours were 413.5 with 64 citations and 189 warnings, and that the department saw one OWI arrest associated with tie-up events; he said crews are usually on patrol 11 a.m.–7 p.m. on weekdays and longer on Saturdays and will increase presence during events.
