Lily Lake Summerhaven Assoc. Water Safety

Lily Lake Summerhaven Association Water Safety

Rev. 08-Oct-2022

Tickets issued in 2001	Results of 2002 Water Safety Survey	Summary of water safety laws for PWCs, Boats, Piers
Tickets issued in 2002	Law enforcement (how to respond to being pulled over, how to report violations)	Town of Milton PWC Ordinance
Summary of Citations in 2006	Weekly water tests 2007 Weekly water tests 2008 Weekly water tests 2009 Weekly water tests 2010 Weekly water tests 2011 Weekly water tests 2012 Weekly water tests 2013 Weekly water tests 2014 Weekly water tests 2015 Weekly water tests 2016 Weekly water tests 2017 Weekly water tests 2018 Weekly water tests 2019 Weekly water tests 2020 Weekly water tests 2021 Weekly water tests 2022	General information about beach water pollution: http://www.co.kenosha.wi.us/dhs/Divisions/Health/ServicesLab/BeachInfo.php
Tickets issued in 2008	2007 Pier Protection Act Oversized piers can get exemptions per the June 24, 2008 Kenosha News.	Notes on VHS

In the ticket table:

PWC = Personal Water Craft (example: a Jet Ski).
Local tie means that the person owns property on the lake or is related to or a guest of someone on the lake.
Y = Person has a local tie.
An empty box means we don't know for sure if the person has a local tie.

2001 Tickets

These are the tickets that Kenosha County recorded on Lilly Lake during the summer of 2001. Many thanks to Bob Griffin for his work in gathering this data.

Initials, Address	Local tie?	Description of Infraction	Fine
CK, Deerfield, IL	Y	Towing a skier with a PWC with no observer	$138.20
DM, Salem, WI		Leaving shore and accelerating to full wake no more than 80' from shore and 60' from dock, then operating a PWC at wake up to dock and shore.	$138.20
LC, Chicago, IL		Operating a PWC 30' from restricted swim area at speed, then traveling above no wake speed around shoreline at 80-100' until he stopped 20' from buoys on East side of lake	$138.20
JB, Kenosha, WI		Operating a PWC at wake speed within 20' of shore	$138.20
JM, Kenosha, WI		Operating a PWC at speed within 50' of shore	$138.20
MH, Niles, IL	Y	Operated PWC at speed 30' from shore, went around lake a few times and returned at speed to within 30 ' of shore	$138.20
PS, Oak Park, IL		Operated a PWC at speed, 65' from marked swim area and 50' from shore	$138.20
JM, Mt. Prospect, IL		Operated a PWC at high speeds and doing circles about 40' from shore and within 40-50' of marked swim area	$138.20
TM, Elmwood Park, IL		Operated a PWC at speed within 25-30' of another boat, said he did not know the state laws	$138.20
DNR tickets		The DNR issued 3 tickets, which were also for operating a PWC at speed within 50' of shore. We have to pay to get details so the detailed information is not available. However, Bob Griffin learned that all three were nonresidents and plead no contest. Two of these people were given field sobriety tests and blew 0.09.	$125-$140
Local tickets		Per the Town Clerk, Constable Haas did not issue any tickets this summer

Editorial comment: Obviously, people's perception of the problem is in fact correct. PWC operators received every single ticket issued on Lilly Lake this past summer, and all but one involved proximity to the shore, beach/swim area, and/or other boats. Also, these tickets are for operating at speed within 50 feet of shore, NOT the 200' for PWCs or even the 100' for the boats that the law requires. The tickets were for the most part issued for infractions that took place at or near the launch ramp and beach area, which makes them an especially serious safety hazard for other lake users.

2002 Tickets

These are the tickets that Kenosha County recorded on Lilly Lake during the summer of 2002. Many thanks to Bob Griffin for gathering this data. One possible reason for the low ticket rate this year was the difficulty in getting law enforcement officers to come to the lake.

Initials, Address	Local tie?	Description of Infraction	Fine
DK, Glenview IL		Operating a PWC faster than slow-no-wake within 100 ft of shore (accelerating rapidly) and adjacent (15 ft) to a posted swimming area	$138.60
RD, Carol Stream, IL		Operating a PWC faster than slow-no-wake within 50 to 75 ft of shore	$138.60
MV, Chicago Hts, IL		Failure to display registration number on boat	$113.80

2006 Summary of Citations

As of August 5, 2006, Deputy Dan Vogt wrote 18 citations:
- 5 for lack of proper number of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
- 7 for speeding above slow/no-wake within 200 ft of shore
- 1 for operating beyond safe carrying capacity of boat
- 2 for underage operation of a Personal Water Craft (PWC) without a certificate
- 1 for PWC towing a tube without an observer
- 2 for riding on a seat back or the gunwale while going above slow/no wake speed

2008 Tickets

Weekend of July 26-27 offenders: 2 from Kenosha, 1 from Salem, 1 from Burlington.
- Operating PWC within 100 ft. lakeshore
- Operating PWC within 100 ft. of another PWC
- Operating PWC above SNW within 20 ft. of shore
- Operating PWC above SNW within 100 ft. of shore

Weekly Water Tests - 2007

For general information about beach pollution and testing, see http://www.co.kenosha.wi.us/dhs/Divisions/Health/ServicesLab/BeachInfo.php.
WATER QUALITY: Results of the water tests conducted by the Kenosha County Health Department of the Lilly Lake public beach swim area:
6/13/2007 - 4 / 100 mls
6/18/2007 - 12 / 100 mls
6/25/2007 - 6 / 100 mls
6/25/2007 - 6 / 100 mls
7/2/2007 - 4 / 100 mls
7/9/2007 - 64 / 100 mls
7/16/2007 - 1 / 100 mls
7/23/2007 - 2 / 100 mls
7/30/2007 - 5 / 100 mls
8/6/2007 - 1414 / 100 mls (probably due to the arrival of several dozen geese during the week and loads of droppings)
8/9/2007 - 1733 / 100 mls
8/13/2007 - 96 / 100 mls
8/16/2007 - 26 / 100 mls
8/20/2007 - 727 / 100 mls
8/23/2007 - 18 / 100 mls
8/27/2007 - 37 / 100 mls
9/5/2007 - 124 / 100 mls

The Kenosha County Health Department conducts the water sampling and testing of the swim area.

WI DNR Recommendations:
CFU/100ml>235 = Beach Advisory to be posted as Water Quality Poor
CFU/100ml>1000 = Beach shall be posted as Closed.

Weekly Water Tests - 2008

August 25, 2008 - 84 cfu / 100 mls. Last water test of the season.
August 18, 2008 -   5 cfu / 100 mls.
August 11, 2008 - 138 cfu / 100 mls.
August 5, 2008 -    55 cfu / 100 mls. The beach advisory is lifted.
August 4, 2008 -    345 cfu / 100 mls. This level requires a beach advisory.
July 28, 2008 -   86 cfu / 100 mls.
July 21, 2008 -       86 cfu / 100 mls.
July 14, 2008 -       9 cfu / 100 mls.
July 7, 2008 -        16 cfu / 100 mls.
July 1 repeat water test: 9 cfu / 100 mls. No beach advisory needed after all.
June 30, 2008 -     326 cfu / 100 mls. This level requires a beach advisory. Another test will be done in the next day or two.
June 23, 2008 -     2 cfu / 100 mls.
June 17, 2008 - 7 cfu / 100 mls.
June 10, 2008 -    17 cfu / 100 mls. The beach advisory has been lifted.
June 3, 2008 - test showed a reading of 237 cfu / 100 mls. Anything over 235 requires an advisory; readings over 1000 require a beach closing.

Weekly Water Tests - 2009

June 1, 2009 - 35 cfu / 100 mls
June 8, 2009 - 4 cfu / 100 mls
June 15, 2009 - 11 cfu / 100 mls
June 22, 2009 - 308 cfu / 100 mls (high reading probably due to runoff and geese) BEACH ADVISORY IN EFFECT!
June 24, 2009 - 33 cfu / 100 mls - Beach Advisory CANCELED
June 26, 2009 - 33 cfu / 100 mls
July 6, 2009 - 26 cfu / 100 mls
July 13, 2009 - 99 cfu / 100 mls
July 20, 2009 - 21 cfu / 100 mls
July 27, 2009 - 488 cfu / 100 mls BEACH ADVISORY IN EFFECT!
July 28, 2009 - 79 cfu / 100 mls - Beach Advisory CANCELED
August 3, 2009 - 157 cfu / 100 mls
August 10, 2009 - 435 cfu / 100 mls BEACH ADVISORY IN EFFECT! Swim at your own risk.
August 11, 2009 - 75 cfu / 100 mls - Beach Advisory CANCELED
August 17, 2009 - 37 cfu / 100 mls August 24 - 387 cfu / 100 mls BEACH ADVISORY IN EFFECT!
August 25, 2009 - 727 cfu / 100 mls BEACH ADVISORY IN EFFECT!
August 26, 2009 - 70 cfu / 100 mls - Beach Advisory CANCELED
August 31, 2009 - 687 cfu / 100 mls BEACH ADVISORY IN EFFECT!

Weekly Water Tests - 2010

June 7, 2010 - 31 cfu / 100 mls
June 14, 2010 - 0 cfu / 100 mls
June 21, 2010 - 20 cfu / 100 mls
June 28, 2010 - 13 cfu / 100 mls
July 5, 2010 - no test
July 12, 2010 - 15 cfu / 100 mls
July 19, 2010 - 291 cfu / 100 mls - Beach advisory
July 20, 2010 - 13 cfu / 100 mls
July 26, 2010 - 127 cfu / 100 mls
August 2, 2010 - 387 cfu / 100 mls - Beach advisory
August 3, 2010 - 1300 cfu / 100 mls - BEACH CLOSED
August 5, 2010 - 2419 cfu / 100 mls - BEACH REMAINS CLOSED
August 9, 2010 - 10 cfu / 100 mls
August 16, 2010 - 3 cfu / 100 mls
August 23, 2010 - 30 cfu / 100 mls
August 30, 2010 - 61 cfu / 100 mls

Weekly Water Tests - 2011

May 31, 2011 - 4 cfu/100mls
June 6, 2011 - 23 cfu/100mls
June 13, 2011 - 5 cfu/100mls
June 20, 2011- 2 cfu/100mls
June 27, 2011 - 11 cfu/100mls
July 5, 2011 - 53 cfu/100mls
July 11, 2011 - 20 cfu/100mls
July 18, 2011 - 23 cfu/100mls
July 25, 2011 - 3 cfu/100mls
August 1, 2011 - 816 cfu/100mls Beach advisory!
August 2, 2011 - 1300 cfu/100mls BEACH CLOSED!
August 3, 2011 - 291 cfu/100mls Beach advisory!
August 4, 2011 - 19 cfu/100mls Beach can be re-opened
August 8, 2011 - 27 cfu/100mls
August 15, 2011 - 121 cfu/100mls
August 22, 2011 - 38 cfu/100mls
August 29, 2011 - 1 cfu/100 mls

Weekly Water Tests - 2012

June 4, 2012 - 16 cfu/100mls
June 12, 2012 - 40 cfu/100mls
June 18, 2012 - 28 cfu/100mls
June 25, 2012 - 16 cfu/100mls
July 2, 2012 - 13 cfu/100mls
July 9, 2012 - 1203 cfu/100mls - BEACH IS CLOSED
July 10, 2012 - 8 cfu/100mls - BEACH IS OPEN
July 16, 2012 - 1 cfu/100mls
July 23, 2012 - 109 cfu/100mls
July 30, 2012 - 816 cfu/100mls - BEACH IS CLOSED
Aug 1, 2012 - 86 cfu/100mls - BEACH IS OPEN
Aug 6, 2012 - 261 cfu/100mls - BEACH ADVISORY
Aug 7, 2012 - 1414 cfu/100mls - BEACH IS CLOSED
Aug 9, 2012 - 1300 cfu/100mls - BEACH REMAINS CLOSED
Aug 13, 2012 - 387 cfu/100mls - BEACH ADVISORY
Aug 14, 2012 - 67 cfu/100mls - BEACH IS OPEN
Aug 20, 2012 - 20 cfu/100mls
Aug 27, 2012 - 6 cfu/100mls

Weekly Water Tests - 2013

June 10, 2013 - 1 cfu/100 mls
June 17, 2013 - 3 cfu/100 mls
June 24, 2013 - 11 cfu/100 mls
July 1, 2013 - 2 cfu/100 mls
July 8, 2013 - 13 cfu/100 mls
July 15, 2013 - 46 cfu/100 mls
July 22, 2013 - 2 cfu/100 mls
July 29, 2013 - 1 cfu/100 mls
August 5, 2013 - 2 cfu/100 mls
August 19, 2013 - 6 cfu/100 mls
August 26, 2013 - 3 cfu/100 mls

Weekly Water Tests - 2014

May 27, 2014 - 0 cfu/100 mls
June 2, 2014    - 5 cfu/100 mls
June 9, 2014    - 687 cfu/100 mls -- BEACH ADVISORY in effect
June 10, 2014 - 15 cfu/100 mls -- BEACH ADVISORY canceled
June 16, 2014 - 1 cfu/100 mls
June 23, 2014 - 13 cfu/100 mls
June 30, 2014 - 4 cfu/100 mls
July 7, 2014    - 15 cfu/100 mls
July 14, 2014 - 9 cfu/100 mls
July 21, 2014 - 12 cfu/100 mls
July 28, 2014 - 1 cfu/100 mls
Aug. 4, 2014 -   727 cfu/100 mls -- BEACH ADVISORY in effect
Aug. 5, 2014 -   124 cfu/100 mls -- BEACH ADVISORY canceled
Aug. 11, 2014 - 411 cfu/100 mls -- BEACH ADVISORY in effect
Aug. 12, 2014 - 30 cfu/100 mls -- BEACH ADVISORY canceled
Aug. 18, 2014 - 18 cfu/100 mls
Aug. 25, 2014 - 78 cfu/100 mls

Weekly Water Tests - 2015

June 15, 2015 -- 53 cfu/100 ml
June 22, 2015 -- 6 cfu/100 ml
June 29, 2015 -- 14 cfu/100 ml
July 6, 2015    -- 15 cfu/100 ml
July 13, 2015 -- 28 cfu/100 ml
July 22, 2015 -- 1 E.coli/100 ml
July 30, 2015 -- 3 E.coli/100 ml
Aug. 4, 2015 -- 4 E.coli/100 ml
Aug. 12, 2015 -- 5 E.coli/100 ml
Aug. 24, 2015 -- 2419 E.coli/100 ml - The beach is CLOSED.
Aug. 25, 2015 -- 1120 E.coli/100 ml - The beach remains CLOSED.
Aug. 26, 2015 -- 2419 E.coli/100 ml - The beach remains CLOSED.
Aug. 27, 2015 -- 2419 E.coli/100 ml - The beach remains CLOSED.
Sept   1, 2015 -- 1553 E.coli/100 ml - The beach remains CLOSED.
Sept   2, 2015 -- 461 E.coli/100 ml - The beach is in ADVISORY state.

Weekly Water Tests - 2016

May 24, 2016 --     3 E.coli/100mls
May 31, 2016 --   17 E.coli/100mls
June 7, 2016 --       2 E.coli/100mls
June 14, 2016 --     3 E.coli/100mls
June 21, 2016 --     1 E.coli/100mls
June 28, 2016 --     3 E.coli/100mls
July 5, 2016 --      12 E.coli/100mls
July 12, 2016 --      8 E.coli/100mls
July 19, 2016 --    11 E.coli/100mls
July 26, 2016 --     20 E.coli/100 mls
August 2, 2016 -- 16 E.coli/100 mls
August 9, 2016 -- 12 E.coli/100mls
August 16, 2016 -- 2 E.coli/100mls
August 23, 2016 -- 3 E.coli/100mls
August 30, 2016 -- 26 E.coli/100mls

Weekly Water Tests - 2017

May 23, 2017 -- 3 E.coli/100mL
May 30, 2017 -- 1 E.coli/100mL
June 6, 2017 -- 1 E.coli/100mL
June 13, 2017 -- 5 E.coli/100mL
June 20, 2017 -- 1 E.coli/100mL
June 27, 2017- 25 E.coli/100mL
July 5, 2017 -- 7 E.coli/100mL
July 11, 2017 -- 4 E.coli/100mL
July 17, 2017 - 11 E.coli/100mL
July 25, 2017 - 77 E.coli/100mL
Aug 1, 2017 -- 4 E.coli/100mL
Aug 8, 2017 -- 1 E.coli/100mL
Aug 15, 2017 -- 1 E.coli/100mL
Aug 22, 2017 -- 1 E.coli/100mL
Aug 29, 2017 -- 1 E.coli/100mL

Weekly Water Tests - 2018

May 24, 2018 --   6 E.coli/100 mL
May 30, 2018 --   3 E.coli/100 mL
June 5, 2018 --     1 E.coli/100 mL
June 13, 2018 --   1 E.coli/100mL
June 18, 2018 --   5 E.coli/100mL
June 28, 2018 --   3 E.coli/100mL
July 2, 2018 --     3 E.coli/100mL
July 10, 2018 --   1 E.coli/100mL
July 17, 2018 --   2 E.coli/100mL
July 24, 2018 -- 11 E.coli/100mL
July 31, 2018 --    1 E.coli/100mL
August 8, 2018 -- 57 E.coli/100mL
August 13, 2018 -- 2 E.coli/100mL
August 22, 2018 -- 1 E.coli/100mL
August 30, 2018 -- >2419 E.coli/100mL Beach is CLOSED Retest is scheduled.
August 31, 2018 -- >2419 E.coli/100mL Beach remains CLOSED for Labor Day weekend. Retest is scheduled next week.
September 5, 2018 -- 133 E.coli/100mL The beach is OPEN.

Weekly Water Tests - 2019

May 23, 2019 -- 1 E.coli/100 mL
June 4, 2019 --    6 E.coli/100 mL
June 11, 2019 -- 5 E.coli/100 mL
June 18, 2019 -- 1 E.coli/100 mL
June 26, 2019 -- 3 E.coli/100 mL
July 2, 2019 --     4 E.coli/100mL
July 9, 2019 --     3 E.coli/100mL
July 16, 2019 --   1 E.coli/100mL
July 23, 2019 --   1 E.coli/100mL
July 30, 2019 --   1 E.coli/100mL
August 5, 2019 -- 21 E.coli/100mL
August 12, 2019 -- 54 E.coli/100mL
August 19, 2019 -- 16 E.coli/100mL
August 27, 2019 -- 5 E.coli/100mL

Weekly Water Tests - 2020

May 26, 2020 --    1 E.coli/100 mL
June 2. 2020   --    2 E.coli/100 mL
June 9, 2020   --   27 E.coli/100mL
June 15, 2020 --     1 E.coli/100mL
June 22, 2020 --     1 E.coli/100mL
June 30, 2020 --     5 E.coli/100mL
July 7, 2020 --        3 E.coli/100mL
July 13, 2020 --     1 E.coli/100mL
July 20, 2020 --     1 E.coli/100mL
July 27, 2020 --    36 E.coli/100mL
August 4, 2020 -- 23 E.coli/100mL
August 12, 2020 -- 308 E.coli/100mL
August 13, 2020 – 2419 E.coli/100mL The BEACH IS CLOSED
August 17, 2020 -- 74 E.coli/100 mL The BEACH IS OPEN
August 26, 2020 -- 12 E.coli/100 mL
August 31, 2020 --    1 E.coli/100mL

NOTE: The > sign means that the E. coli count exceeded the test range maximum value of 2419.

Weekly Water Tests - 2021

May 25, 2021 ----     4 E.coli/100 mL
June 1, 2021    ----    1 E.coli/a00 mL
June 9, 2021    ----   10 E. coli/100 mL
June 15, 2021 ----     2 E.coli/100 mL
June 22, 2021 ----     4 E.coli/100 mL
June 29, 2021 ----   31 E.coli/100 mL
July 6, 2021     ----    1 E.coli/100 mL
July 12, 2021 ----   12 E.coli/100 mL
July 19, 2021 ---- 727 E.coli/100 mL CAUTION! Lilly Lake is at a “caution” level
July 20, 2021 ---- 121 E. coli/100 mL – Caution is lifted. Beach is OPEN.
July 26, 2021 ----     5 E.coli/100 mL
August 3, 2021 --    64 E.coli/100 mL
August 10, 2021 --    9 E.coli/100 mL
August 16, 2021 -- 2419 E.coli/100mL Beach is closed. Sampling will be done again with results known tomorrow, 8/17/2021.
August 17, 2021 -- 2419 E.coli/100mL Beach remains closed. Sampling again done today, results on 8/18/2021.
August 18, 2021 -- 2419 E.coli/100mL Beach remains closed. Sampling again done today, results on 8/20/2021.
August 19, 2021 -- 2419 E.coli/100mL Beach remains closed. Sampling again done today, results on 8/21/2021.
August 23, 2021 --       3 E.coli/100mL   Beach is OPEN.
August 30, 2021 -- 1733 E.coli/100mL Beach is closed. Sampling will be done again with results known tomorrow, 9/1/2021.
August 31, 2021 -- 1414 E.coli/100mL Beach is closed. Sampling will be done again today with results known tomorrow, 9/2/2021.
September 1, 2021 - 435 E.coli/100mL Beach is at CAUTION. Sampling will be done again with results known tomorrow, 9/3/2021.
September 2, 2021 -    53 E.coli/100mL Caution is lifted. Beach is OPEN.

Weekly Water Tests - 2022

May 23, 2022 --    1 E.coli/100 mL
May 31, 2022 --    1 E.coli/100 mL
June 7, 2022 --      1 E.coli/100 mL
June 13, 2022 --    1 E.coli/100 mL
June 21, 2022 --    1 E.coli/100 mL
June 27, 2022 --    1 E.coli/100 mL
July 5, 2022 --      7 E.coli/100 mL
July 11, 2022 --     6 E.coli/100 mL
July 18, 2022 --     1 E.coli/100 mL
July 25, 2022 --     2 E.coli/100 mL
Aug 1, 2022 --      1 E.coli/100 mL
Aug 8, 2022 --      1 E.coli/100 mL
Aug 15, 2022 --    1 E.coli/100 mL
Aug 22, 2022 --    1 E.coli/100 mL
Aug 29, 2022 --    4 E.coli/100 mL

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia is a virus that causes fish to bleed to death internally. It was recently found in two fish from Little Lake Butte des Morts near Oshkosh— the first occurrence of the virus in Wisconsin inland waters. Though believed harmless to humans, the virus has already killed millions of fish in Lakes Huron and Erie and could devastate sport fishing if it gets into Wisconsin's inland lakes. That is why the DNR is instituting emergency rules:
- Never move live fish or fish eggs to other waters and always buy bait minnows only from Wisconsin bait dealers.
- Inspect boat, trailer and equipment and remove visible aquatic plants, animals and mud before leaving the launch ramp.
- Drain water from boat, motor, bilge, live wells and bait containers before leaving a lake.
- Dispose of leftover bait in the trash, not in the water.
- Rinse boat and recreational equipment with hot water, or dry for at least five days.
- Report large numbers of dead fish or fish with blood spots to your local DNR fish biologist or conservation warden.

Results of Water Safety Survey

Meeting on Saturday, June 29, 2002
The Board and Safety Committee members presented the results of the survey and a synopsis of the comments that people wrote on the surveys. The following main agreements were reached:

Unanimous vote in favor of stricter law enforcement
One issue is that people call when they see dangerous activity, but no one comes out. Many home owners have volunteered their piers, decks, boats, whatever for law enforcement to use in nabbing dangerous boaters. Need to know what to do to get law enforcement on the scene. Effectively, there are just 12 summer weekends when we need the extra law enforcement; the town and county should be able to provide that.
Big majority vote not to buoy the lake
The extra buoys may be hazards (e.g., to kids learning to ski or to swimmers who swim out to them), and they'll squeeze boat traffic into an even smaller space than it is already squeezed. Rafts buoy the lake more effectively.
Near unanimous vote not to ban PWCs
The Milton death was just one of 23 last year (most were alcohol-connected deaths). National parks banned PWC mostly for the MBTE gasoline additive released into the water, not for safety reasons. We might be able to reduce outsider boats and PWCs just by enforcing the parking limits near the boat launch (law enforcement again). Prosecute the people who are violating the rules, not the water craft that they happen to be driving.

Most meeting attendees excoriated the survey saying it was unscientific, biased, and "a piece of crap" that should not even be shown to the Town Board. For those who participated in the survey and did not attend the meeting, here are the results that were handed out:

Final survey results as of July 10, 2002 (no more surveys being accepted)
Surveys sent: 248 Usable surveys returned: 110 (44.4%) Surveys discarded (duplicates, anonymous): 7

Estimated lakefront Summerhaven properties: 86 (56 of 86 or 65% of lakefront households responded to the survey)

Y = Circled Yes N = Circled No B = Blank (did not circle anything)

All Respondents

Lakefront Households

Question	Y (# and %)	N	B	Y (# and %)	N	B
1. Full-time resident	63 - 57.3%	47	0	20 - 35.7%	36	0
3. Lakefront household	56 - 50.9%	54	0	56 - 100%	0	0
4. Own boat or PWC	79 - 71.8%	31	0	51 - 91.1%	5	0
5a. Power/ski boat	48 - 43.6%	11	51	36 - 64.3%	2	18
5b. Fishing boat	23 - 20.9%	17	70	12 - 21.4%	9	35
5c Pontoon	19 - 17.3%	19	72	14 - 25%	12	30
5d. PWC	17 - 15.5%	20	73	13 - 23.2%	11	32
5e. Sail boat	13 - 11.8%	20	77	11 - 19.6%	10	35
5f. Row boat, kayak, canoe, paddle boat	45 - 40.9%	10	55	33 - 58.9%	5	18
5g. Deck boat	3 - 2.7%	26	81	2 - 3.6%	16	38
6. Operate on Lilly Lake	75 - 68.2%	15	20	51 - 91.1%	2	3
7. Would take safety course	57 - 51.8%	42	11	35 - 62.5%	17	4
8a. Boaters w/i 100' of shore	72 - 65.5%	30	8	41 - 73.2%	13	2
8b. Boaters w/i 100' of other boat	70 - 63.6%	30	10	43 - 76.8%	10	3
8c. Boaters w/i 100' of swim area	61 - 55.5%	40	9	35 - 62.5%	18	3
8d. Boaters w/i 100' of pier/raft	72 - 65.5%	27	11	44 - 78.6%	8	4
8e. Boaters w/i 100' of person	56 - 50.9%	42	12	35 - 62.5%	16	5
9a. PWC w/i 200' of shore	74 - 67.3%	26	10	44 - 78.6%	10	2
9b. PWC w/i 100' of other boat	71 - 64.5%	28	11	43 - 76.8%	10	3
9c. PWC w/i 100' of swim area	62 - 56.4%	38	10	34 - 60.7%	20	2
9d. PWC w/i 100' of pier/raft	76 - 69.1%	23	11	45 - 80.4%	8	3
9e. PWC w/i 100' of person	59 - 53.6%	40	11	34 - 60.7%	19	3
10. Other boating violations	33 - 30%	67	10	20 - 35.7%	32	4
11a. Concerned about power/ski boat	70 - 63.6%	27	13	29 - 51.8%	21	6
11b. Concerned about fishing boat	16 - 14.5%	64	30	7 - 12.5%	34	15
11c. Concerned about pontoon	21 - 19.1%	58	31	11 - 19.6%	30	15
11d. Concerned about PWC	82 - 74.5%	19	9	37 - 66.1%	13	6
11e. Concerned about sail boat	13 - 11.8%	65	32	6 - 10.7%	34	16
11f. Concerned about row boat	13 - 11.8%	65	32	6 - 10.7%	34	16
11g. Concerned about deck boat	15 - 13.6%	62	33	7 - 12.5%	32	17
12. Support PWC ban (ala Milton)	59 - 53.6%	46	5	21 - 37.5%	32	3
13. Buoys marking 100' off shore	77 - 70%	28	5	35 - 62.5%	18	3
14. Would volunteer as deputy aide	34 - 30.9%	64	12	18 - 32.1%	31	7
15. Any specific concerns	47 - 42.7%	42	21	27 - 48.2%	16	13

Notes:

Question 2 asked for Lilly Lake address.
Questions 8 and 9 asked about slow/no wake violations observed; "w/i" means "within".
Question 11 asked about concern over safety as a result of others operating various types of water craft.

Summary of water safety laws

Contact the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at PO Box 7291, Madison, WI 53707-7921 for a copy of Wisconsin Boating Regulations PUBL-LE-301, or read the regulations online at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es/enforcement/safety/boatreg.htm. For other information, see:

The DNR Web site at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/
The boating page of the DNR Web site at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es/enforcement/safety/boatsaf.htm

The following rules are summaries of Wisconsin regulations.

Rules for PWCs

All PWCs must be registered, display valid registration decals and numbers on the forward half of both sides of the craft, and abide by all boating regulations in addition to the following specific PWC rules.
No one under 12 may operate a PWC. Persons between 12 and 16 must possess a valid, state-approved, boating safety student certificate to operate a PWC. (Parental supervision is not a substitute for the certificate.)
You may not operate a PWC from sunset to sunrise.
You must wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) of the proper size and type.
You may not tow skiers or other water devices on a PWC unless it is designed to seat at least 3 people. You may tow stranded/disabled boats only at slow-no-wake speed.
You must not operate the PWC while facing backwards.
You must reduce speed to slow-no-wake whenever:
-- The PWC is within 100 ft of any other boat or PWC on any body of water
-- The PWC is within 200 ft of the shoreline of any lake
It is illegal to operate the PWC within 100 ft of:
-- A boat towing a skier
-- The tow rope of a boat towing a skier
-- A person involved in skiing or similar activity

Rules for boats

If you are a parent or guardian, ensure that no child under 10 operates a boat, and children between 10 and 12 are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Never exceed the maximum capacity limits of your boat.
Supply the proper number and types of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs). The PFDs must be in serviceable condition. Also, a boat 16 ft or longer must have one Type IV throwable PFD on deck when the boat is in operation.
Have one Class B-1 fire extinguisher.
Do not operate a boat in a careless, negligent, or reckless maner so as to endanger life or property.
Observe slow-no-wake speed from 8 PM or sunset to 10 AM.
Do not operate a boat or use water skis, PWCs, etc while under the influence of an intoxicant or controlled substance.
Display proper lighting from sunset to sunrise.
When swimming, diving, or snorkeling from any boat, ensure that the boat is anchored, has an observer aboard, and the swimmer stays within 25 feet of the boat.
Stay 100 ft away from swimmers and divers unless the boat is part of the diving operation.
Maintain slow-no-wake speed within 100 ft of piers, docks, rafts, skiers, swimmers, and buoyed restricted areas.
Skiers must operate in a counter-clockwise direction, only 2 per boat.
No racing is allowed on the lake.
No littering on the lake, shore, or private property.
All state regulations are in effect.

Note: A typical American sedan is 14 to 16 ft long. Thus 100 ft is roughly 6.5 car lengths.

Rules for Piers

The rules on piers are complicated. Below are some links from the State on piers and water law. There don't appear to be any setbacks from a neighbor's property line as long as you are not interfering with their "riparian rights." There are rules about length and size of piers. Local units of government can have stricter laws than the State; so check with Wheatland for the final word.

Wisconsin DNR Piers, Docks, and Wharves
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/waterways/factsheets/pier_planner_082012.pdf
http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/g3622.pdf

In 2005, new laws took effect to reduce damage to natural habitats. Piers wider than 6 ft or having more than 2 boat slips need a one-time DNR permit.

The Wisconsin Legislature adopted and Governor Doyle signed into law the 2007 Pier Protection Act. See Wisconsin Act 204.

The Seasonal Residents Association (SRA) Post issued a special report (Vol II, No. 5) that identifies several concerns about what is happening. Here are excerpts from the report:

Grandfathering
If current recommendations are passed, there will be no true "grandfathering" of existing piers and all of the state's nearly half-million piers will be subject to the new regulations. New regulations mean that thousands of docks on Wisconsin waterways might be deemed illegal and owners might be forced to modify or remove them. With a few exceptions, existing piers should be exempt from these new regulations.

DNR officials claim that 84% of the piers would not be affected by the new rules because they would be "no wider than six feet and no longer than the length needed to moor a boat or to rest in three feet of water." The math does not seem to take into account factors such as the length of the boat, the draught of the boat, and changing depth of some lakes from year-to-year and the configuration (shape) of the dock. All other piers would require either a "general" permit ($50) or an individual permit ($300). Permits imply review and approval; approval suggests some denials--and many appeals.

Representative Scott Gunderson heads the Assembly Natural Resource Committee and is quoted as saying, "there are some piers that people have had in the family for 50 years or more, and now they might lose it.... I don't want to see people get caught up in that.... This is a property rights issue." Gunderson thinks the DNR exceeded the intent of the legislature and went too far in regulating piers.

Sensitive lakes
DNR officials have also been quoted as saying that the goal is to rein in the docks and structures that go far beyond their proper purpose--to aid navigation. At the same time, however, they've linked the navigational imperative with their ecological imperative by designating lakes having "sensitive areas"--for fish habitat and aquatic plants. These areas are NOT exempt from the permitting requirements and new piers might very well be denied.

The list is growing: originally 138, then 142, now 154. It's a moving target and could be 200 next year. The regulations are unclear on how else the "sensitive lake" classification will be differentiated from non-sensitive lakes for the purposes of piers.... For more information on each lake:
Go to www.dnr.state.wi.us.
In the menu bar, click the A-Z Index button.
Click the L.
Click Lakes.
Scroll down to Living Lakes (in the left pane).
Under Living Lake, click Sensitive Areas.

[Editor note: You should end up on this page: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/fhp/lakes/sensitiveareas.asp.]

"Tattle Tale" Enforcement
While the DNR has the ability to enforce the new rules if they feel your pier is out of compliance, their staffing will not allow for follow-through of the regulations. So, they will rely on complaints from neighbors or other lake users. They do this now in other areas of enforcement. This is particularly troublesome ... since we get so many reports of "locals" who are notorious for finding excuses to harass seasonal residents. We can imagine a scenario where the only pier owners being "tattled on" are the nonresidents. Since the DNR is famous for sending letters with ultimatums, we can envision a barrage of paper harassment as well.

Environmental Challenges
Wisconsin SRA is sensitive to, and generally supportive of, regulating piers to protect Wisconsin waterways from becoming overdeveloped. And generally we support the spirit of the regulations being proposed--but only for new construction. We're not sure that all the provisions are reasonable and in the best interest of many of our members.

We agree in principle that 40' of frontage should not be expected to support every water toy that comes on the market. We also recognize that the recreational environment and natural habitats suffer when the pressure to develop goes unchecked. That said, we feel that the DNR should define abusive pier usage, regulate it accordingly and police aggressively while regulating new pier construction along the lines of the current regulations. In the meantime, provide "grandfather" exemption to existing piers that are not abusing their property rights and stop taxing piers through "permitting fees."

Law enforcement

Whenever your boat is approached by an authorized patrol boat (usually indicated by blue flashing lights, you must reduce your boat speed to slow-no-wake speed and yield right of way to the patrol boat.
You must stop when requested by a law enforcement officer or patrol boat.
To report boating violations, call your local law enforcement agency (use the 537-4343 dispatch nunber) or call 1-800-TIP-WDNR.

Town of Milton PWC Ordinance

On June 30, 2001, a 9-year-old girl from Illinois was killed on Clear Lake (Town of Milton, Rock County, WI) when a PWC hit her while she was riding an inner tube behind a boat. The president of the Clear Lake association is quoted as saying, "Everybody that lives out there could unfortunately see this coming. Boats coming 25 to 30 ft off the piers is an everyday thing on the weekends." [Reference: Kenosha News, Dec. 12, 2001, page C6.]

The Town of Milton responded by passing the following ordinance.

TOWN OF MILTON ORDINANCE NO.11:1001

A SOLE ORDINANCE TO REGULATE PUBLIC SAFETY AND BOATING UPON THE WATERS OF CLEAR LAKE AND PRESCRIBED PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THERE OF

The Town Board of the Town of Milton does ordain as follows:

Section l APPLICABILITY AND ENFORCEMENT

a. The provisions of this Ordinance shall apply to the waters of Clear Lake which consists of 82 acres in the Town of Milton, Rock County, Wisconsin.
b. This chapter shall be enforced by the officers of the Town Of Milton Police Department.

Section 2 INTENT

a. The intent of this ordinance is to provide safe and healthful conditions for enjoyment of aquatic recreation consistent with public rights and interests due to congestion and capability of water resources.

Section 3 STATE BOATING LAWS ADOPTED

State boating laws as found in ss.30.50 to 30.71 Wisconsin Stats. are adopted by reference.

Section 4 DEFINITIONS

a. Town - Refers to the Town of Milton, Rock County, Wisconsin.
b. Slow No Wake - means that speed at which a boat moves as slowly as possible while still maintaining steerage control.
c. Personal Watercraft - means a motorboat that uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump or a caged propeller as its primary source of motive power and that is designed to be operated by a person standing on, kneeling or sitting astride the watercraft.

Section 5 USE OF PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

a. Operation of personal watercraft shall be prohibited on Clear Lake from sunset Friday until sunrise Monday.
b. This ordinance also prohibits the operation of personal watercraft on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day on Clear Lake.

Section 6 POSTING REQUIREMENTS

The Town Of Milton shall place and maintain a copy of this Ordinance at all Clear Lake public access points within the jurisdiction of the Town of Milton.

Section 7 PENALTIES

Wisconsin state boating penalties as found in s. 30.80, Wis Stats. are adopted by reference.

Section 8 SEVERABILITY

Should any section or provision of this Ordinance be declared invalid, such declaration shall not effect the validity of the remaining portion of the ordinance.

This ordinance shall be effective upon passage and the day after publication.

Passed this 10th day of December, 2001

Wm. Cunningham Town Chairman Jeannine C. Schrank Town Clerk