Residents discuss slow/no-wake standards

JANESVILLE

A Rock County Board committee heard enough input from 40 residents to give it pause about setting a standard water level for slow/no-wake orders along the Rock River.

The board’s public safety and justice committee on Monday took up a draft ordinance that would set objective standards for water levels at which the county would set and enforce slow/no-wake orders on the river.

The committee had sought feedback from residents and user groups along the river, including the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District, which had petitioned for a countywide standard and has suggested the county use flood action stage as the standard.

But the committee tabled discussion on the ordinance as dozens of residents and some township officials argued that flood action is too high for boats to cruise on the river.

Committee Chairman Ivan Collins said the committee is reviewing comments made Monday before it makes any recommendation to the full board. The ordinance would require a public hearing and full board approval.

Most residents were concerned about property damage and shoreline erosion from boats cutting wakes in high water. Many urged the county to keep the standard at 7½ feet on the north part of the river, near Lake Koshkonong.

That’s the current slowno/wake standard set by ordinances in townships along the Rock River such as the town of Fulton. The Rock County Sheriff’s Office is in charge of enforcement.

A.W. Stockwell, who lives along the river at Rock River Drive in Edgerton, told the committee that the township’s ½-foot standard has worked for years and should remain in place.

“We can’t control Mother Nature,” he said. “If Mother Nature wants to dump water into the Rock River basin, we’re all going to have to abide by the rules, and rules are made for everyone.”

Rob Montgomery, a hydrologist for the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District, told the committee he’s reviewed water levels on the river spanning back to 2003. He said records show that during that time, about a third of each boating season has fallen under slow/no-wake orders, based on the townships’ existing standard.

Montgomery also said that if the standard had been set at flood action stage during that time, it would have cut in half the length of time spent under slow/no-wake orders.

Also speaking Monday was Dave Brown, a Fulton Township supervisor and member of the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District board. He suggested a compromise on a slow/nowake standard of a foot below flood action stage, which is 8 feet on the northern part of the river.

Brown said Fulton officials removed slow-no/wake orders along the river on Memorial Day weekend, when water levels were at 8 feet. He said boating commerce was uninterrupted, and there were no complaints about property damage.

Also speaking was Gerry Luiting, a resident along the river and member of the Rock Aqua Jays water ski club, which holds shows on the Rock River at Traxler Park in Janesville during the spring and summer.

Luiting suggested the committee add to the ordinance a caveat for special events on the river, such as Rock Aqua Jays shows.

Post your comments here on SNW order

Janesville Gazette

More Comments on SNW order - Lake Koshkonong / Rock River

The antiboaters were out in full force at the hearing last nite. Seems as though they had prior notice of the meeting that was not posted until Monday am in the gazette. Also convenient that the meeting was not called until after all the summer residents on the river from kosh to Indianford were gone for the season. This proposal had been in the works for over a year. Lot of wetlands people that do not have a dog in the fight had been recruited to attend. Very few wetlands from the lake to Newville. Hmmmm! People do not realize that at SNW (2.5mph)it takes over 1hr 15min to get to the lake from just the railroad bridge and that is each way.

Delavan Lake dredging project well under way

From the Janesville Gazette

...If the phrases “dredging project” and “sediment build-up” make you want to turn immediately to the comics page, consider this: The lake’s health is crucial to the economy’s health.

Lake Koshkonong Winter drawdown Begins Oct 15th

lake level 775.99

7 inches ABOVE the DNR winter target level

ALL gates are currently 100% CLOSED.

Support for RKLD Efforts Re: County SNW

Brian,
I seen the article in the Gazette today about the 4:00 meeting. I think I will attend.

Most people don't realize we could have a possible SNW on river all or most of the summer.

Sayre is listening to people who's real motive may be they don't like boat motor noise,and would be happy if the only boat traffic was canoes and kayaks.

They don't think they should be responsible for protecting their shoreline, are too lazy to adjust the legs on their pier, they would rather bitch about it than do anything. Should be noted at meeting our levels come off scientific data, not unprofessional opinions!


It takes us 40 minuets each way to go no wake to the lake, not acceptable , we still live on Ellendale Rd.. Should be pointed out when the river drops below the piers and sea walls, boaters ignore the no wake anyway and I bet there aren't too many No Wake tickets written because even the boat patrols know there is no problem. We own a pontoon, canoe and a kayak and believe the river is to be enjoyed by what ever type of boating the public enjoys.

Where is the meeting held in the court house?

Hope to see you there!
John

Potential Water Wheels for Hydro Power At Indianford - Lake Koshkonong

Hydrovolts

County panel considers change to slow/no wake levels on river

County panel considers change to slow/no wake levels on river

A Rock County Board committee is considering changes to slow/no-wake standards on the Rock River.

Just how big a change is unclear.

At a meeting today, the Rock County Public Safety and Justice Committee will consider an ordinance that would set objective standards for water levels that would trigger county enforcement of slow/nowake orders on the Rock River.

The ordinance would split the Rock River in Rock County into north and south halves, using the Indianford dam as the dividing line.

But a draft ordinance leaves blank exactly what water level the county would use to establish standards for either part of the river.

“We’re trying to draft one (slow/no-wake ordinance) that will work for all sides,” Ivan Collins, public safety and justice committee chairman, said in an interview over the weekend.

Collins said “all sides” include:

The Rock-Koshkonong Lake District, which has petitioned the county, asking it to set a uniform slow/no-wake standard at flood action stage along parts of the Rock River in Rock County.

Rock County residents who have property along the Rock River, some of whom have said they’d oppose boats cruising the river at flood action stage over concerns about possible property damage and shoreline erosion, officials said.

Officials from townships in the Rock River basin, which already have slow/no-wake standards set by their own ordinances.

Collins said the committee hopes to draw input today from all three groups. He said the committee could make a recommendation as early as today on suggested water levels in the slow/no-wake ordinance, but it would need final approval by the county board.

Slow/no-wake orders on the river are now based on standards set in town and municipal ordinances and are enforced by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office.

But the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District last year filed a petition with the county requesting a countywide slow/no-wake ordinance with an “objective numerical standard” for water levels.

The lake district wants the county to use flood action stage as that standard, said its chairman, Brian Christianson.

Flood action stage is a foot below true flood stage.

Christianson has said having the standard at action stage would shorten the time slow/no-wake orders stay in effect during spring and early summer, when it typically takes the river longer to recede than rise. He has said that would be a boon to recreational boaters.

Christianson also has said it would give the lake district a buffer for water levels and would allow the lake district to use the Indianford dam to raise water levels on Lake Koshkonong without affecting boat traffic on the river.

The lake district’s plan to raise water levels using the dam is tied up in a suit against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The case is headed to the state Supreme Court.

At Lake Koshkonong, flood action stage is 9 feet. That’s 1½ feet higher than the town of Fulton’s slow/no-wake recommendation of 7½ feet.

Town of Fulton Chairman Evan Sayre said he plans to attend today’s committee meeting.

Sayre said he’s heard from a half-dozen residents who live along the river in Fulton Township who say they don’t want boats cutting wakes while the river’s at flood action stage.

“There’s no reason why you’d want to be tearing around in March and April with a $50,000 boat when people’s piers are still under water,” Sayre said. “It (slow/nowake) needs to be put on and taken off in an orderly manner.”

Sayre said the Fulton Town Board decided earlier this year it wants to keep its slow/nowake standard at 7½ feet or “some realistic, manageable number.”