LEGISLATION BY STATE

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is considering a substantial adjustment to shoreline buffers and lake depth requirements for “wake boats.” The current buffer of 100 feet would increase to 500 feet, potentially leading to the removal of wakesurfing and other water sports from numerous lakes throughout the state. 

The ongoing local disputes concerning wakesurfing in Michigan have now escalated to the state Legislature, where deliberations are underway regarding potential restrictions or bans on the activity in certain areas.

LEA and the Maine Boating Impacts Coalition proposed legislation in 2023 that would eliminate the sport of wakesurfing on many Maine lakes. Bill LD 693 would ban wakesurfing within 500 feet of shore and in waters less than 20 feet deep. 

A recently passed bill has enforced new restrictions on wakesurfing within one of Oregon's top recreational lakes.These regulations include a continuous 30-mile stretch where wakesurfing is now prohibited, as well as restrictions in other designated areas.

• The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) is actively pushing for new laws that would prohibit wakesurfing on lakes smaller than 1500 acres, potentially banning the sport from a considerable number of Wisconsin lakes. 
  • (this could push all wake surfing/wake boats to the few lakes that accommodate the sport, causing overpopulation issues)

Info on Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee