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Residents tell Merton board wake boats threaten swimmers and shorelines; urge bans on small lakes
Summary
Multiple speakers at the May 4 hearing described near-misses, capsized kayaks, damaged riprap and lost fish hatches, calling for bans on wake-enhanced boating especially on smaller bays of Lake Keesus and Moose Lake.
Several residents at the Town of Merton public hearing urged the board to adopt ordinances that would prohibit wake-enhanced boating on Moose Lake and Lake Keesus, citing safety and shoreline damage.
"I have been nearly capsized in my kayak," said Sue Scholl, who said her family has been on the lake for 101 years and that "children should not fear the water." Multiple speakers described near-collisions and property damage; Ed Schlumpf said his family spent "over $5000 to fix part of the problem last year," and Sibylle Krause said large waves threw her into rock while she stood in knee-deep water. Supporters also pointed to ecological impacts, saying wave energy disrupts fish hatching and uproots vegetation along shallow shorelines.
Those urging an ordinance suggested that small bays are unsuitable for wake-enhanced activity and that local regulation is necessary to protect swimmers, waterfront structures and fish habitat. Several speakers recommended a prohibition for specific bays or size-based restrictions rather than a townwide exception.
