Rome debates wake-boat rules

ROME — The Town of Rome will hold a public informational meeting Aug. 23 to discuss a possible ordinance regulating wake boats on the town’s three lakes, following a statewide trend of communities enacting such restrictions.
The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 23 at Rome Town Hall, 1156 Alpine Drive. The Last Wilderness Alliance will present information about potential wake boat regulations, followed by a question-and-answer session with a three-minute speaking limit for residents.
More than 50 Wisconsin communities have passed wake boat ordinances since 2009, with 19 new ordinances enacted this year alone. Wake surfing uses specialized boats with large ballast tanks and “bow high” orientation to create wakes 3 to 5 feet high for recreational surfing.
The Last Wilderness Alliance, which describes the impacts of wake-enhanced boating on inland lakes as “devastating,” argues the massive waves and downward propeller wash create significant environmental and safety problems. The organization advocates for local control to allow towns to regulate hazardous wakes in the interest of protecting natural resources.
The Wisconsin Watersports Coalition, however, opposes many local restrictions, arguing that a 200-foot distance from shore would provide balanced framework while maintaining equitable lake use. The coalition contends data shows no significant safety citations or documented injuries associated with wake boating.

A University of Minnesota study found wake surf boat waves take 500 feet to diminish to the same level as regular powerboat wakes at 100 feet from shore. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources found wake surf boats generate enough turbulence to resuspend bottom sediments in water up to 33 feet deep.
Current Wisconsin law prohibits creating wakes within 100 feet of shore for all boats, but environmental advocates argue specialized wake boats require greater distances to minimize impact on shorelines and aquatic ecosystems.
Legal challenges to local ordinances are emerging. Property owners filed a lawsuit in 2025 against the Town of Scott over its wake boat ordinance, seeking damages of $124,570 and $65,587 for two plaintiffs’ wake boat values. An attorney called it the first step in challenging anti-wake boating ordinances across Wisconsin.
The Aug. 23 meeting represents the first formal step in Rome’s consideration of wake boat restrictions, giving residents an opportunity to learn about the issue and voice opinions before any official town board action.