ORDINANCES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO PROPERTY OWNERS
BOATING: In addition to adopting all state boating laws, The Town of Whitewater ordinances provide for:
“SLOW NO WAKE” AND “TRAFFIC LANES”: The rules and regulations for operating any boat are the same as they are for water skiing. See below
SHORELINE INTO LAKE: No pier shall extend further into the lake than 50 feet from the shore line, no raft shall be anchored or moored where it extends into a traffic lane. No buoys shall be located in a traffic lane and no boat shall be moored where it can drift into a traffic lane.
BOATING ORDINANCES FOR WHITEWATER AND RICE LAKES:
WATER SKIING: No person shall operate a boat for the purpose of towing a water skier, aquaplane or similar device unless there is a competent person in the boat with the boat driver. The person in the boat must observe the skier being towed and relay any signals to the boat operator. Persons operating a boat with skiers or any other water sport must operate in a counterclockwise pattern on both lakes, inlets and outlets in the “Traffic Lane”. A person shall not operate a boat for the purpose of towing water skiers or engage in water skiing except between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or sunset which ever is earlier, on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, holidays and the day preceding a holiday. Water skiing and boat wakes are permitted Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to sunset except if one of these days would be a legal holiday or the day preceding a legal holiday. Two tow lines on a boat and only two persons using the lines as a means of water skiing or similar sport are allowed. Persons skiing must be equipped with a U. S .Coast Guard approved personal flotation device. The two lines shall be no longer than 75 feet. No person engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity on any lake shall engage in such activity within 100 feet of any occupied anchored boat or marked swimming area or public boat landing except where pickup and drop are established.
LIFTING INTO THE AIR FROM THE WATER BY BOAT: No water skier behind any boat will be permitted to be lifted into the air by any means including parasailing, hang gliding or other means, whether the tow remains in place or not, after the skier is aloft.
SWIMMING: Swimming from boats is prohibited unless the boat is anchored and the swimmers stay within 25 feet of the boat. Anchored boats with swimmers must have U.S. Coast approved flotation devices. If swimming more than 150 feet from the shore line a swimmer must be accompanied by a person driving a boat and the boat must equipped with floatation devices that are U.S. Coast Guard approved and the person in the boat must also be trained in life saving techniques. Each person swimming must be accompanied by a person trained in life saving techniques and boat with U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation devices. No person shall swim in a traffic lane between sunset and sunrise.
ACCESSES: The general public may use the boat accesses for launching fishing boats, boating and recreational equipment to the lake. No parking on the boat accesses or the road by the accesses. No use of the lake access that is in violation of state, federal or county statues shall be permitted.
SPECIAL USE OF BOAT ACCESSES: Permission from the Town of Whitewater Board is necessary for use of the boat accesses by research groups, weed harvesting and chemical treatment operators, sea wall construction operators and heavy equipment operators. The discussion will be on the second Wednesday of the month at the monthly Town Board meeting.
BOAT OPERATORS: No one may operate a motorized boat under the age of 10. A person under 12 years of age may operate a motorized boat with a parent, guardian or a person no younger than 18 years of age designated by the parent or guardian. A person under 16 years of age may operate a motorized boat only if they are accompanied by a parent, guardian or a person designated by the parent. A person 16 years of age that has completed a Department of Natural Resources prescribed Boating Safety Course and possess a safety certificate issued by the Department or by the state of their residency, is able to operate a boat.
AIR CRAFT: It is hereby prohibited for any aircraft to land upon the surface of the Lakes. The surface shall include ice as well as water. No person shall dock or moor any boat on the water or along the shores of the lakes for the purpose of living, sleeping or camping over night.
PERMITS: Permits are necessary to have any event or display upon the surface of the lakes without requesting a permit from the Town of Whitewater Board before the activity shall take place. During any event of display it is not legal to anchor any boat within the designated area that would interfere with the event.
TRAFFIC LANE: Mooring lights are required to moor or anchor any boat, raft, buoy or other floating object or permit it to drift into a “Traffic Lane.” This applies between sunset and sunrise. A large white light of sufficient size and brightness is to be visible from any direction (360 degrees) for a distance of 2 miles.
FISHING; State fishing laws and administrative codes are enforced by the Department of Natural Resources. Fishing licenses, both resident and non-resident and copies of the fishing regulations are available at nearby marinas, bait shops and sporting goods stores.
SNOWMOBILES: The frozen surfaces of town lakes provide an attractive snowmobiling area.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE BECAUSE THE AREA LAKES ARE SPRING FED THERE ARE WEAK SPOTS IN THE ICE THAT ARE NOT VISIBLE ON THE SURFACE, CAUTION IS ADVISED. State snowmobiling laws are enforced and can be obtained from the D.N.R. Town ordinance #2 reads in part, “No person shall operate a snowmobile on Whitewater Lake after 11:00pm, except for the purpose of crossing Whitewater Lake in a direct route to their destination on the other side.