The Town of Spider Lake Board is seeking feedback on compliance with the Town’s boating ordinances. 

They are interested in gathering information on the date, location and type of boating ordinance infractions that may be occurring. This program is intended to encourage compliance through communication and public education, while continuing to monitor the need for more active ordinance enforcement.  

Read the entire notice and how to report infractions on the TOSL site here.

Two areas of the lakes are proposed to be dredged to improve navigation between Little Spider and Big Spider, and also between Little Spider and Clear Lake. 

Although this is not an SCLA initiative, we wanted to alert anyone who is interested in the Public Information Hearing by the Wisconsin DNR on Tuesday, August 11 at 1:30 pm via Microsoft Teams. Please read more about the hearing and get log in information below.

Microsoft Teams meeting 

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/290398985938475?p=sTedZIwE7YoVFO5Iaa 

Meeting ID: 290 398 985 938 475 

Passcode: 4ej36h34 

Dial in by phone 

+1 608-571-2209,,448824421# United States, Madison 

Find a local number 

Phone conference ID: 448 824 421# 

Sawyer County Lakes Forum invites the public to its summer program with Max Wolters, Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Biologist. The presentation will cover Habitat, Climate, Survey Methods and more.  

Tuesday, August 18th at 6pm

Veterans Community Center (Main St. and Hwy 63, Hayward, WI)

Free admission

Sawyer County Lakes Forum is a group of county lake associations working to facilitate education and research for sustainable water bodies and ecosystems in Sawyer County. More information about the goals and missions of the organization can be found at www.sawyercountylakesforum.org

Two areas of the lakes are proposed to be dredged this summer to improve navigation between Little Spider and Big Spider, and also between Little Spider and Clear Lake. 

This is NOT an SCLA initiative and is for informational purposes only. You can read more below about the permit application, the opportunity to submit comments to the Wisconsin DNR, and how this will impact navigation should the permit be approved.

Dredging 2026.pdf

A new wake surfing bill has been put forward in the Wisconsin legislature this past week and if passed could have devastating effects on the Spider Chain of Lakes!

Assembly Bill 1033 (AB 1033) is the latest industry-backed effort to allow enhanced-wake activities (generally from powerful wake boats) on ALL Wisconsin's lakes with very little restriction.

The bill proposes a 300-foot from shore minimum with no depth requirements and no recognition of the right for local control. This would damage our shorelines, jeopardize the lakes' standing as an "Outstanding Resource Water" by the WIDNR, harm fish habitat, and compromise the safety of other lake users.

As lake stewards, SCLA strongly opposes this bill and we need your help! What YOU can do:

Call or email your legislators and ask them to oppose this bill (email is more effective for those who are seasonal residents)! 

• Senator Quinn 608-266-3510 (Sen.Quinn@legis.wisconsin.gov)
  
• Representative Green 608-237-9174 (Rep.Green@legis.wisconsin.gov)

Demand local control!

Forward this message. Our legislators need to hear from all of us!

TOGETHER  we can protect the Spider Chain for future generations.

On October 29, 2025 in a unanimous vote, Town of Spider Lake Supervisors voted to approve Ordinance #2025-1 to restrict wake enhancement on all lakes in the Town of Spider Lake. 

For more information go to the "Agendas & Minutes" page of the town website (View Ordinance 2025-1 here).

Thank you all who helped advocate for the lakes, and made this important protective measure HAPPEN!!

Thank you, TOSL leaders, volunteers and residents, for working to protect the Spider Chain of Lakes for future generations.  See below for the Sawyer County Record article that includes you speaking up for the lakes at the Public Hearing October 2, 2025

Spider Lake Residents Show Support For Restrictions On Wake Enhancement

Sawyer County Record Oct. 8, 2025 Celia Hiorns

A draft ordinance proposes restricting wake enhanced boating on all waters in the Town of Spider Lake.

Residents expressed overwhelming support for an ordinance that would restrict wake-enhanced boating in the Town of Spider Lake during a public hearing held last week.

“Given the town’s mission, strategy, overall goals of protecting and preserving the environment, I think it’s critical that the board move forward and implement the proposed ordinance,” one speaker said. “And I’m fully in support of that.”

Specifically, the ordinance seeks to prevent boaters from using ballast tanks or other features “to operate in a bow-high manner,” or from operating continuously at transition speed. These activities enhance a boat’s wake, producing adverse impacts on the environment and safety, according to the proposed ordinance. The rule would not prevent the use of wake boats for activities that do not create enhanced wakes.

Penalties for not complying with the ordinance would result in forfeitures of $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense within one year.

The ordinance was already reviewed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, as is required for ordinances that regulate boating on inland lakes under Wis. Stat. 30.77. In its Aug. 8 letter to the Town of Spider Lake, the DNR indicated that the ordinance is in compliance with state statutes. The town then had 60 days to hold a public hearing on the ordinance.

Seven in-person and online speakers each spoke in favor of the ordinance. Residents pointed to environmental hazards and safety concerns as some of the top issues with wake-enhanced boating.

Prior to the drafting of the ordinance restricting wake-enhanced boating, the Town of Spider Lake Board of Supervisors assembled an ad hoc committee to research the impacts of all boating activities on the town’s lakes, according to the ordinance condition report sent to the DNR.

Some of the environmental impacts of wake-enhanced boating as documented by the committee included shoreline erosion, destruction of fish spawning beds and increased water turbidity.

Ad hoc committee chair Bob Berkopec said during the hearing that the research found little to no evidence that suggested wake-enhanced activities were safe for the environment. He emphasized that it’s not the boats themselves but how they’re used to generate large wakes that can be destructive.

Another resident, Jay Hoeschler, said while he personally enjoys some wake-enhanced activities like wake boarding, he thinks it should be confined to larger water bodies like Lake Superior.

“It’s a wonderful activity but it’s clear to us ... this is not the lake to do it at,” he said. “And any of the lakes we have in Spider Lake, this is not the proper place.”

Other speakers worried about the long-term impacts of environmental degradation caused by enhanced wakes. Multiple speakers shared they had years- or decades-long ties to the Spider Chain of Lakes — a natural resource they hope can endure to future generations.

“In my opinion, the greatest danger to the health of our lakes is the wake surfing activity and the enhanced wake creation,” said Tom Oatman, another speaker who served on the ad-hoc boating committee.

Another concern raised by residents included the impacts of enhanced wake boating to other lake users. Speakers pointed out how enhanced wakes can prevent people from being able to enjoy the lake while paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing or otherwise boating without an engine.

One property owner said without enhanced wake boating, his property already experiences high levels of erosion. Enhanced wake activities only make the impacts greater.

Hoeschler described wake-enhanced boating as “vandalizing” the lakes, which he said is unfair to property owners. He added the community and local government has invested a lot of money over the past 10 years to maintain lake quality and he was in support of the proposed ordinance’s goal to uphold that effort.

Johnson also summarized the 16 written comments he received over email about the proposed ordinance. Fifteen of them reflected similar sentiments to those shared during the public hearing. The remaining written comment suggested a compromise to allow wake-enhanced activities at certain depths or distances from the shore.

At least 63 Wisconsin municipalities have ordinances regulating wake-enhanced activities, according to Last Wilderness Alliance. That total includes some municipalities in Sawyer County such as the Towns of Hayward, Round Lake and Bass Lake.

The Town of Spider Lake Board will now take into consideration public comments as supervisors prepare to vote on whether to enact the ordinance. Johnson said that would take place during a special board meeting, likely scheduled for late October.

https://www.apg-wi.com/sawyer_county_record/paywall/spider-lake-residents-show-support-for-restrictions-on-wake-enhancement/article_965404d4-02c7-43a9-9843-89534e1fabcf.html

LEARN MORE:

NEWS pages of SCLA Website:

8/15/25:  "WDNR Clears the Way...." (links TOSL Submission/ColorMap)

9/26/25:  "Restricting Wake Enhancement...." (links BOAHC report & Summary)

HIGHEST QUALITY LAKE Classification Helped Drive Recommendation to Ban Wake Enhancements

Spider Chain of Lakes is among 97 Wisconsin lakes (out of 15,000 - 17,000 depending on data source) with "OUTSTANDING RESOURCE WATERS" classification.  Fewer than 1% of state lakes are in this highest water quality class.  

The rare, unique high water quality helped drive the recommendation to ban wake surfing on the Spider Chain of Lakes

BACKGROUND

On February 26, 2025 the TOSL Boating Ordinance Ad Hoc Committee (BOAHC) leaders presented a robust set of key findings and recommendations to the Town Board of Supervisors.  The committee was charged with reviewing the TOSL boating ordinance to:

• Ensure and maintain public health & safety
• Protect and preserve natural resources
• Understand fiscal and legal impacts

The BOAHC was asked to inform Town Supervisors:

• Whether and in what areas the current ordinance needs revision
• Whether separate ordinances are needed for different bodies of water
• Best methods of enforcement
• For Spider Lake Chain: How best to share, schedule, regulate recreation on the lake for individuals with diverse interests.

Committee members used a fact based, data driven process and divided  due diligence work across published research and community input.  The 56 slides presented at the meeting highlighted a summary of the deep-dives into a vast array of information on the topic. 

RECOMMENDATIONS (Driven by Highest Quality Lake Designation... Fewer than 1% of Wisconsin Lakes are designated "Outstanding Resource Waters" - Spider Chain of Lakes is Among Them)

Impact on Spider Chain of Lakes:

• Immediately enact an ordinance to prohibit wake surfing and all activities that use “enhanced wakes” in the Town of Spider Lake
• Retain the hours for water skiing on the Spider Chain of Lakes:  11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Enforcement:  focus on education, evaluation of key components, and implementation of a plan that meets the needs of the town

Impact on Other Lakes:

• Designate Ghost Lake as a quiet lake
• Retain the current 10 m.p.h. speed limit
• Place WDNR approved “slow no wake” buoys in critical areas on Lost Land and Teal lakes

One of the main drivers of the recommendations is the uniquely high water quality of town lakes: 

FIVE LAKES in the town (TOSL) are designated “High Quality Waters,” 

TWO (Spider Chain of Lake and Teal Lake) are designated “Outstanding Resource Waters.”

It is far more effective to protect and preserve outstanding and high water quality than it is to restore it after damaging it. 

Reach out to Town officials to share your thoughts on the recommendations - Send email: Clerk@TownOfSpiderLakeWi.gov

For a PDF copy of the BOAHC presentation click here.  Thank you to all members who served on the committee. Your service to our community is appreciated by all who value this uniquely pristine chain of lakes and its neighboring high quality lakes!   

LAKE OWEN and other high quality lakes in our area have protection from wake enhanced activity.  The towns of Drummond, Cable, Round Lake and Hayward have already passed ordinances that restrict it.  For a copy of the Lake Owen related ordinance click here.

NEXT STEPS:  Spider Lake Town Board of Supervisors will review, deliberate and vote on Ordinance 2025-1. After overwhelming support for restrictions at the 10/2/25 Public Hearing, it will likely be approved by the board.  To stay current subscribe to Town updates here.

See how wake surfing affects lakes: Video here.

On September 11, 2025 Judge Isham granted the Town of Spider Lake motion to dismiss the lawsuit against the town to remove 50 years of Quiet Hours on town lakes. 

In her judgement to dismiss the lawsuit, the judge ruled that the plaintiff ("Boating Club") had not proven harm nor standing their arguments.

Thank you, Town of Spider Lake Supervisors, for working to defend the Northwoods Character of town lakes, and preserve 50 years of the compromise made for the Spider Chain of Lakes, to create both quiet hours and recreational hours for all.