WHEREAS, Michigan’s glacier formed landscape is graced with over 11,000 inland lakes; and, the
majority of said lakes being defined by healthy freshwater ecosystems as indicated by the existence of
clear, sunlight inundated waters, highly beneficial native aquatic plant communities, and diverse
populations of invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and waterfowl; and
WHEREAS, healthy inland lake ecosystems provide a wide array of valuable economic and ecological
services that are recognized for the vital role they play in helping to foster and sustain the growth and
development of Michigan’s increasingly freshwater resource dependent economy, and culture; and,
WHEREAS, one of the most important services that inland lakes provide to millions of Michigan citizens
and visitors is the opportunity to engage in popular water-borne recreational activities such as
swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, power boating, and water skiing; and
WHEREAS, a dramatic increase in the popularity of enhanced wake dependent water sports that are
enabled by wake boats designed for the sole purpose of generating wakes that are defined by kinetic
energy levels that greatly exceed those that are produced by wind, and/or conventional watercraft have
gained the attention of state and local government officials, law enforcement agencies, and the news
media; and, the results of several peer reviewed scientific studies that have explored the physics of the
high energy wakes created by wake enhanced boats, and the nature and scope of their potential impact
on aquatic ecosystem have demonstrated that the recent surge in the number of wake boats operating
on the inland lakes of Michigan are likely responsible for rendering a destructive array of adverse
ecological impacts; and, wake boat generated high energy wakes created in close proximity to shore,
and/or within shallow areas of inland lake basins are not allowed the distance, time, and/or depth
necessary for their extraordinarily high kinetic energy levels to dissipate before disturbing
vulnerable benthic habitat, and/or having an adverse impact on both natural and developed shorelines;
and, the jet engine-like turbulence generated by the four blade, large diameter propellers of wake boats
are capable of scouring lake beds in depths in excess of sixteen feet; and,
WHEREAS, wake boats operating in areas of inland lakes defined by depths of less than thirty-three feet
are known to induce high volume sediment resuspension that contributes to increases in
phytoplankton (algae) production, increased turbidity, decreased water clarity, inhibition of aquatic
plant growth, loss of fish habitat, and overall degradation in water quality; and, in addition to causing
damage to docked watercraft, piers, and other forms of shoreline infrastructure, high energy wakes
generated by wake enhanced watercraft operating within 500 feet of shore are capable of endangering
kayakers and swimmers, of rendering significant damage to natural shorelines that serve as a protective
buffer, and provide life sustaining habitat for fish, aquatic animals, and waterfowl; and high energy
wakes created by wake boats within 500 feet of shore are known to be capable of causing accelerated
rates of shoreline erosion that leads to high volume sediment deposition and accumulation that results
in degradation of fish spawning habitat, loss of fish foraging habitat, and a significant reduction in the
capacity of inland lakes to support diverse recreational opportunities; and, wake boats that are towed
from lake-to-lake by their owner/operators are equipped with high volume ballast water tanks that
significantly increases the risk of introducing new exotic invasive aquatic plant and animal species to
unaffected lakes; and,
WHEREAS, considering the steadily increasing number of wake boats operating upon the waters of
inland lakes, current State of Michigan laws pertaining to the safe operation of watercraft as it applies to
the generation of high energy wakes are now outdated; and,
WHEREAS, the scientific research-based conclusions of State of Michigan Department of Natural
Resources Fisheries Report 37 entitled “A Literature Review of Wake Boat Effects on Aquatic Habitat”
dated July 2023 serves to reaffirm the veracity of the science-based facts that form the basis of this
document; and,
WHEREAS, Michigan Waterfront Alliance (MWA) is a 501 (C) (4) non-profit organization dedicated to
contributing to the enactment of state laws and natural resource management policies that help
preserve, protect, and/or promote long-term sustainable use of Michigan’s vast treasure of high-quality
freshwater resources; and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT the Michigan Waterfront Alliance supports the
recommendations of MDNR Fisheries Report 37 dated July 2023 and shall commit to working
with the Governor and the legislature of the State of Michigan to promulgate revisions to inland marine
operating laws in regards to wake boats in a manner to help ensure the safety of people engaging in
passive recreational pursuits such as swimming, kayaking, and fishing, and to further protect the natural
shorelines, shoreline property, and vulnerable inland lake ecosystems of this great state.
