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.