Dane County Eases Slow, No Wake Rules on Yahara Chain of Lakes

July 09, 2008
Topf Wells, Office of the County Executive 266-9069 Elise Schaffer, Dane County Sheriff’s Office (608) 284-6142 Scott McDonell, Dane County Board Chairman (608) 266-4121
County Executive

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Sheriff Dave Mahoney, and County Board Chairman Scott McDonell today announced the following changes with the effective dates of those changes for Lakes Kegonsa, Waubesa and Monona: · Lake Kegonsa: Effective immediately, the Slow, No Wake order is removed. · Lake Waubesa: Effective noon on Thursday, July 10, the Slow, No Wake order is modified to 500 feet. That is, there is a Slow, No Wake Zone extending 500 feet from the shoreline. · Lake Monona: Effective noon on Thursday, July 10, the Slow, No Wake order is modified to 500 feet with one exception. The Slow, No Wake order is maintained for all of Squaw Bay. · Lake Mendota: The 500 foot Slow, No Wake Zone is maintained for Lake Mendota; Cherokee Lake and Marsh continue to be Slow, No Wake for its entire surface area. Officials noted that with little chance of significant rain for the next 6 days and with the lakes continuing to fall consistently, safe boating can occur without property damage as long as boaters observe the Slow, No Wake Zones that remain in effect. “Our boaters are eager to enjoy the rest of the summer on our beautiful lakes and these changes should enable them to do so. We are thankful for their compliance with these orders, which are intended to limit property damage during these times of extraordinary high waters,” Falk said. "Marine and trail deputies will continue to patrol Dane County lakes to enforce the existing Slow No Wake areas of Squaw Bay and the shorelines of Mendota, Monona, and Waubesa. We thank the boaters for their cooperation over the last several weeks and expect that cooperation to continue as the declaration is modified," Sheriff Mahoney said. The three officials continue to daily monitor the lake levels and will further modify the Slow, No Wake orders as conditions warrant. # # #