The Town of La Valle received an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) grant for the 2011 boating season. The AIS Grant project focused on the education, prevention and planning regarding aquatic invasive species in two lakes, Dutch Hollow Lake and Lake Redstone.  The purpose of this project was to proactively address the growing concern over the threat of aquatic invasive species by spreading awareness about these issues among the public, especially lake users, as well as to provide educational opportunities to area high school students and their teachers.

As a result of the efforts of many, La Valle will have a Clean Boats Clean Waters volunteer program for the 2012 boating season. Funding for the program comes from both the Lake Redstone Protection District and the Dutch Hollow Property Association. A new invasive species, the Banded Mystery Snail was discovered in Dutch Hollow Lake in the summer of 2011. You can read about this new invasive in the documents to the right.

All boats required to operate at slow-no-wake within 100 feet of shoreline

Weekly News Article Published: May 4, 2010 by the Central Office

MADISON – A new boating rule in Wisconsin is designed to make lakes safer while protecting shorelines and improving water quality. The law prohibits boaters from operating their boats at speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 100 feet of lake shorelines.

The law applies to all lakes, including the lake areas of flowages.

“The law will make it safer for people wading, swimming or fishing near shore, and it should help reduce conflicts between near-shore recreationists and boaters,” said Scott Bowe, a Department of Natural Resources conservation warden in Chippewa County.

Moreover, boats operating in shallow waters often churn up sediment and chop up vegetation, decreasing water quality, and potentially spreading invasive aquatic species like Eurasian water-milfoil. Slowing these boats will reduce this problem. In addition, eliminating near shore wakes will reduce shoreline erosion.

This change is in addition to current law which already prohibits boaters on lakes from operating at speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 100 feet of docks, rafts, piers and buoyed restricted areas.

Personal watercraft (PWC) operators must also follow these laws in addition to speed restrictions that apply specifically to PWCs. PWC operators cannot operate at a speed greater than slow-no-wake within 200 feet of the shoreline of any lake. They also are required to cut back to slow-no-wake speed when passing within 100 feet of other boats, including other PWCs. This law applies to both rivers and lakes.

Slow-no-wake is defined as the minimum speed required to maintain steerage. Speed violations are the primary source of boating complaints in the summer. Speed is also a frequent cause of boat crashes, especially at night, Bowe said.

People operating boats at night need to slow down to avoid colliding with people, boats or structures lawfully on the water. Running lights are required from sunset to sunrise.

When on unfamiliar waters, boaters are responsible for knowing all the rules. This means checking at boat ramps for local ordinances that might further regulate boating on that body of water.