Wisconsin Lakes

06/02/2026

Join Us at the Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference!
https://nwwislakesconference.org/

Whether you're a lake association leader, waterfront property owner, volunteer monitor, elected official, or simply passionate about Wisconsin lakes, this conference is for you!

📅 June 12, 2026
📍 Hayward, Wisconsin

Learn from experts and connect with others who care about protecting and improving our lakes. Just a few of the topics that will be covered include:

🔹 Understanding Water Level Fluctuations in Lakes
🔹 Amplifying Impact and Building Community Through Lake Organizations
🔹 Lake Sturgeon Restoration and Its Cultural Significance
🔹 Aquatic Invasive Species Updates
🔹 Shoreland Stewardship & Lake Management

This is a great opportunity to gain practical knowledge, share experiences, and help ensure healthy lakes for future generations.

We hope to see you in Hayward on June 12th!

05/29/2026

Wisconsin’s lakes are among our state’s greatest treasures—but they need strong advocates to protect them.

By becoming an individual member of Wisconsin Lakes, you help support education, lake stewardship, and advocacy on issues that impact lake property owners, anglers, boaters, and everyone who enjoys Wisconsin’s waters.

Join a statewide network of people who care about protecting and preserving our lakes for future generations. Every membership makes a difference.

Become a member today and help keep Wisconsin’s waters healthy, accessible, and enjoyable for all.

https://wisconsinlakes.org/membership/

05/28/2026

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board recently sent a controversial proposed open-water duck hunting rule back for additional public input instead of approving it outright. The proposal would remove current concealment requirements that help direct hunting activity toward more natural shoreline areas and away from developed lakeshore.

Wisconsin Lakes submitted a letter of opposition and testified during the hearing process, raising concerns that the emergency rule process unnecessarily fast-tracked the proposal without adequate input from potentially affected groups, including lake property owners, anglers, boaters, and other lake users.

The proposed rule change would eliminate current requirements that hunters be at least 50% concealed by natural vegetation rooted to the lake bottom. Opponents argue the change could potentially expand open-water hunting opportunities from the current 16 authorized lakes to more than 15,000 Wisconsin lakes, while also eliminating the current 500-foot minimum distance-from-shore requirement.

Wisconsin Lakes is a statewide nonprofit organization representing lake associations, lake districts, and individuals dedicated to protecting and improving Wisconsin’s lakes and waterways. The organization regularly reviews proposed legislation and administrative rules that may impact lakes, shoreline property owners, recreation, water quality, and public use, and frequently provides testimony and public input during the rulemaking process.

See original story: https://www.outdoornews.com/2026/05/08/open-water-duck-hunting-rule-kicked-back-to-public-by-wisconsin-natural-resources-board/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

05/26/2026

Only a few days until the Southern Wisconsin Lakes Conference!!! Join us May 30th for a day of great learning and networking about lake issues. Check out a couple of the sessions highlighted below. Register at https://ticketstripe.com/events/4274108827911428

05/24/2026

In the fight against aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin, old laws are being reviewed.

The Wisconsin DNR has developed a new rule for round gobies in the Lake Winnebago System, allowing anglers to kill as many as they catch.

05/23/2026

Join us May 30th for a day of great learning and networking about lake issues. Check out a couple of the sessions listed below. Register at https://ticketstripe.com/events/4274108827911428

05/21/2026

https://nwwislakesconference.org/

Celebrate Our Lakes and Streams at the 2026 Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference!

Lake lovers, volunteers, conservation leaders, shoreline property owners, educators, and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to attend the 2026 Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Hayward High School in Hayward, Wisconsin.

05/21/2026

Looking for an easier way to keep your lake organization connected and informed?

Lakekit.net helps Wisconsin lake organizations build and maintain professional websites without needing advanced technical skills. With built-in support, training resources, and affordable hosting, it’s designed specifically for lake communities by people who care about Wisconsin lakes.

✔ Easy drag-and-drop website tools
✔ Volunteer support & training
✔ Hosting and domain included
✔ Built for Wisconsin lake organizations

Learn more at Lakekit.net and help your community stay connected!

https://lakekit.net/

05/21/2026

Join Us at the Southern Wisconsin Lake Conference!

Calling all lake leaders, association members, district representatives, volunteers, and passionate lake stewards — this conference is for you!

Hosted by Wisconsin Lakes, the Southern Wisconsin Lake Conference brings together people from across the region who are committed to protecting, managing, and improving the health of Wisconsin’s lakes.

Spend the day learning from experts, connecting with fellow lake advocates, and gaining practical tools and ideas to bring back to your community.

📅 Saturday, May 30, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Program begins at 8:30 AM)
📍 Camp Edwards YMCA Camp — Lake Beulah, East Troy, Wisconsin

Conference topics include:
✔ Lake conservation and stewardship
✔ Water monitoring and ecosystem management
✔ Natural shorelines and habitat protection
✔ Development pressures and invasive species
✔ Enhanced-wake recreation impacts
✔ Working with local governments
✔ Big data centers and water resources
✔ Weather volatility and lake management

Whether you serve on a lake association board, volunteer with your district, or simply care deeply about Wisconsin’s waters, this conference offers valuable education, fresh perspectives, and meaningful connections.

Registration is required, and space is limited.

We hope you’ll join us as we work together to protect and preserve Wisconsin’s lakes for future generations!

https://ticketstripe.com/events/4274108827911428

05/15/2026

🚤 Wisconsin Has Regulated Boating Activity for Decades 🌊

Lately, there has been growing debate around wakeboats, enhanced wakes, and whether Wisconsin lakes should have lake-size, depth, or distance-based regulations. One argument often repeated is that “you can’t regulate a type of boat based on lake or size or depth.”

But the reality is… Wisconsin already regulates boating activity based on lake size, distance from shore, and operating behavior. An certain watercraft, such as PWC have specialized regulations.

Here are a few examples from existing Wisconsin law:

✅ Motorboats must operate at slow-no-wake speed within 100 feet of shore

✅ Personal watercraft (jet skis) must operate at slow-no-wake within 200 feet of shore

✅ Lakes 50 acres or smaller with public access are automatically slow-no-wake only

These are not new concepts. Wisconsin has long recognized that different waters require different rules to protect safety, shorelines, habitat, and the public’s enjoyment of lakes.

The discussion around wakeboats is really part of a broader conversation:

How do we balance recreation with shoreline protection?
How do we reduce erosion and property damage?
How do we protect habitat and water quality?
How do we ensure smaller lakes remain enjoyable for everyone?

Supporters of additional wakeboat regulations argue that artificially enhanced wakes can have impacts that differ from traditional boating activity — especially on smaller lakes where wave energy reaches shorelines more quickly and repeatedly.

Others believe existing laws are sufficient and that boat type restrictions unfairly target certain users.

Regardless of where people stand, it is important to understand that Wisconsin boating laws have always included restrictions on how boats operate depending on conditions, location, and lake characteristics.

This is not a new idea in Wisconsin water law — it is part of a long tradition of managing lakes for public safety and shared use.

🌊 Respect the lake. Respect each other.
Wisconsin waters belong to everyone.