The need for appropriate regulation of enhanced wakes has generated extensive activity and debate around Wisconsin the last couple years. The goal is to reduce environmental and safety impacts without infringing unnecessarily on the rights of those who enjoy wake sports. Meanwhile, wake boats are becoming more powerful and more common. A coalition of environmental…
In January 2022, Sawyer County passed a watercraft decontamination ordinance similar to the one we have in Washburn County. There are now a total of six counties in northwest Wisconsin (Washburn, Burnett, Polk, Bayfield, Barron and Sawyer) with ordinances requiring boaters to use decontamination stations at landings where they exist. Burnett and Washburn Counties were the first,…
This summer WCLRA Board members talked with all candidates for election to the Wisconsin Legislature about environmental issues that affect the waters of Washburn County.
As previously reported, dramatic changes have been made to shoreland zoning in the past year. The most sweeping of the changes is the elimination of counties’ rights to adopt local shoreland ordinances stronger than the DNR’s minimum standards. Click here to read a summary of those changes prepared by Wisconsin Lakes association. Information on these…
As previously reported, WCLRA and the Washburn County Board of Supervisors are part of a movement across Wisconsin calling for the repeal of those provisions in the 2015 budget bill (Act 55) that significantly altered shoreland zoning in Wisconsin. The most sweeping of the changes is the elimination of counties’ rights to adopt local shoreland ordinances…
On September 18, 2015, Washburn County Lakes and Rivers Association (WCLRA) passed a resolution, shown below, urging the immediate repeal of Act 55, Sections 1922 D through 1922K, amending Wisconsin Statue 59.692 as it pertains to shoreland zoning. At their October meeting, the Washburn County Board of Supervisors passed a similar resolution. WCLRA and Washburn…
Aldo Leopold wrote in A Sand County Almanac, “There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.” This year marks the 50th anniversary of passage of Wisconsin’s Wild River Law. There are five rivers designated under Chapter 30.26 of the state statutes, including the Totogatic in Washburn County. Since WCLRA was instrumental…