Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB1171 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
4	4	2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 1171
5	5	March 22, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives SWEARINGEN, BEHNKE, BODDEN,
6	6	CALLAHAN, MICHALSKI, MURSAU, SINICKI, SNODGRASS, SORTWELL, TITTL, GREEN
7	7	and EDMING, cosponsored by Senators FELZKOWSKI, COWLES, FEYEN and
8	8	SPREITZER. Referred to Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation.
9	9	AN ACT relating to: a wakeboat study at the University of Wisconsin System.
10	10	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
11	11	This bill requires the University of Wisconsin System, in submitting
12	12	information to the governor for the purposes of the 2025-27 biennial budget, to
13	13	submit a plan for conducting a wakeboat study and request funding for conducting
14	14	the wakeboat study in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium. The bill requires the study to
15	15	be planned to measure wave energy from representative wakeboats engaged in wake
16	16	surfing and wake boarding activities in typical wake-enhanced mode and at various
17	17	distances, study the impact of enhanced wakes on lake bottoms, fish nesting, aquatic
18	18	vegetation, and sediment disruption, and assess the wave energy of waves generated
19	19	by winds and storms compared to the energy of waves generated by enhanced wakes.
20	20	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
21	21	enact as follows:
22	22	SECTION 1.0Nonstatutory provisions.
23	23	(1) FUNDING REQUEST FOR WAKEBOAT STUDY.
24	24	(a) Notwithstanding s. 16.42 (1) (e), in submitting information under s. 16.42
25	25	for purposes of the 2025-27 biennial budget bill, the University of Wisconsin System
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32	32	SECTION 1 ASSEMBLY BILL 1171
33	33	shall submit a plan for conducting a wakeboat study and request funding for
34	34	conducting the wakeboat study in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium.
35	35	(b) The study under par. (a) shall be planned to do all of the following:
36	36	1. Be conducted with the boats described in subd. 4. on representative inland
37	37	lake bodies of water in this state.
38	38	2. Be conducted with the best available technology, including sensors,
39	39	underwater cameras, and overhead video shot with drones.
40	40	3. Study and measure wave energy from representative wakeboats engaged in
41	41	wake surfing and wake boarding activities in typical wake enhanced mode, both with
42	42	maximum ballast and wake shaping equipment and without ballast. The study and
43	43	measure of wave energy under this subdivision shall incorporate a test of at least two
44	44	different 2023-year or later wakeboat models, one of which shall be a typical boat
45	45	with engines with, at minimum, 400 horsepower and a total boat weight of 10,000
46	46	pounds or more, including the weight owing to ballast, and one of which shall be a
47	47	boat with engines with, at minimum, 600 horsepower and that represents the
48	48	maximum size wakeboat sold for use on inland waters in this state as measured by
49	49	the boat's total weight, including the weight owing to full ballast.
50	50	4. Study wave energy of the enhanced wake from wakeboats measured against
51	51	other non-wake-enhanced boats commonly used on inland lakes in this state,
52	52	including in the study a representative ski boat, a representative pontoon boat, a
53	53	20-foot or longer representative fishing boat with minimum 200 horsepower
54	54	outboard motor, and if available, a cabin boat with inboard engine and length of 27
55	55	feet or longer. The goal of the study shall be comparing wave size and energy from
56	56	wake-enhanced boats to similar sized boats on lakes and rivers in this state that are
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83	83	SECTION 1
84	84	ASSEMBLY BILL 1171
85	85	used for recreation, fishing and pleasure boating. The study of wave energy under
86	86	this paragraph shall also do all of the following:
87	87	a. Measure the energy and height of waves generated by the boats described
88	88	this subdivision at distances of 100, 200, 500, 700 and 1,000 feet from shorelines. The
89	89	study shall determine at what distances a wake-enhanced boat must be from shore
90	90	for both the energy and wave height to equal the same energy and wave height as
91	91	non-wake-enhanced boats at 200 foot distances from shore.
92	92	b. Include an analysis of the impact of wake-enhanced waves at distances of
93	93	100, 200, and 500 feet from other boaters, kayakers, paddleboarders, fishing boats,
94	94	sailboats, and other water users, with the goal of understanding whether
95	95	wake-enhanced waves present additional safety challenges to lake users compared
96	96	to other non-wake-enhanced boats.
97	97	5. Study the impact of enhanced wakes on lake bottoms, fish nesting, aquatic
98	98	vegetation, and sediment disruption, and measure energy and video comparisons of
99	99	wake-enhanced versus non-wake-enhanced boats in water depths of 10, 15, and 20
100	100	feet. The study of lake bottoms shall include all of the following:
101	101	a. Measure of downward prop wash created by a boat in wake surf mode
102	102	compared to other boats.
103	103	b. Measure of divergent wave impact on lake bottom.
104	104	c. Analysis of the impacts, if any, to lake littoral zones resulting from wave
105	105	energy as wake-enhanced waves reach the shoreline.
106	106	d. Determination of the amount of energy a typical lake bottom in this state
107	107	absorbs as waves move from deep to shallow waters over distances of 500 and 700
108	108	feet.
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134	134	SECTION 1 ASSEMBLY BILL 1171
135	135	e. An element regarding sediment resuspension, including an inquiry into
136	136	whether bottom sediment disruption by enhanced wakes include resuspension of
137	137	toxic elements like Polychlorinated biphenyls and arsenic, and an inquiry into
138	138	whether any sediment resuspension settles on the leaves of aquatic vegetation and
139	139	inhibits the aquatic vegetation's growth.
140	140	f. An assessment of wave energy and its impacts on both steep and gradual lake
141	141	bottom drop-offs to the shoreline, and whether steep lake bottoms demonstrate a
142	142	significantly higher shoreline impact compared to gradual lake bottoms.
143	143	6. Assess the wave energy of waves generated by winds and storms compared
144	144	to the energy of waves generated by enhanced wakes, considering the impacts of
145	145	fetch analysis of wind correlation on small lakes compared to large lakes. In order
146	146	to provide context, this assessment shall include a review of historical sustained
147	147	wind measurements on lakes in this state.
148	148	7. Assess the potential impact of wake enhanced wave energy on shorelines as
149	149	that impact relates to shoreline erosion.
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