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Dane County Land & Water Resources Department

Slow-no-wake

Map Labels Lake Mendota Map Lake Monona Map Lake Kegonsa Map Lake Waubesa Map

Slow-no-wake Restriction Map

Green Lake = Normal Slow-no-wake Restrictions

Yellow Lake = Emergency Order: slow-no-wake within 500 feet of shore

Red Lake = Emergency Order: slow-no-wake entire surface area

Slow-no-wake Restrictions

Slow-no-wake requirements were created to minimize conflict between various lake recreational users, reduce or lessen the severity of boating accidents, protect human life, provide safe swimming zones, assure and encourage multiple uses of lakes, reduce shoreline erosion, protect fish spawning areas and protect wetlands, bogs and other sensitive areas.  Dane County has in effect a slow-no-wake ordinance, see Chapter 72, that goes beyond the minimum state boating requirements (see the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Boating in Wisconsin webpage).

Normal Slow-no-wake Restrictions: 

  • Dane County ordinance establishes a 200-ft slow-no-wake zone along the entire shorelines of Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa.  Within that zone, boaters must not travel faster than slow-no-wake speed, which means the minimum speed at which a motorized watercraft is able to move and maintain adequate steerage control.
     
  • There is an exception to the requirement stated above for Lake Monona from Law Park to a point 1,000 feet due north of the intersection of John Nolen Drive and Lakeside Street.  Lake users should be aware of water skiers practicing and performing in this area.

Emergency Slow-no-wake Restrictions:

  • Emergency orders are slow-no-wake restrictions that are in addition to normal 200-ft slow-no-wake restrictions, creating an entire lake surface of slow-no-wake.  These orders are declared when there is high water or other hazardous circumstances which pose a threat to life or property.

Previous 10 Emergency Orders

7/2/2024 - Emergency Slow-no-wake orders have been issued for the following lake(s):
Wiicawak Bay (Entire Surface),
Press Release
7/16/2020 - Emergency Slow-no-wake orders have been issued for the following lake(s):
Wiicawak Bay (Entire Surface),
Please note: Slow-no-wake will be effective noon July 16, 2020. Slow-no-wake will be rescinded when Lake Monona water level is at or below elevation 846.40' for 5 consecutive days.
Executive Order
11/15/2019 - Emergency Slow-no-wake orders have been issued for the following lake(s):
Please note: slow-no-wake has been rescinded for Lake Kegonsa.
Press Release
11/12/2019 - Emergency Slow-no-wake orders have been issued for the following lake(s):
Please note: slow-no-wake has been rescinded for Lake Monona and Waubesa.
Press Release
10/30/2019 - Emergency Slow-no-wake orders have been issued for the following lake(s):
Please note: slow-no-wake has been rescinded for Lake Mendota.
Press Release
10/3/2019 - Emergency Slow-no-wake orders have been issued for the following lake(s):
Lake Kegonsa (Entire Surface),
Please note: slow-no-wake will be rescinded when water levels are at or below the following water elevations for 5 consecutive days: Lake Mendota: 851.20'; Lake Kegonsa: 844.20'
Press Release
9/23/2019 - Emergency Slow-no-wake orders have been issued for the following lake(s):
Lake Monona (Entire Surface), Lake Waubesa (Entire Surface),
Please note: slow-no-wake will be rescinded when water levels are at or below the following water elevations for 5 consecutive days: Lake Monona: 846.60'; Lake Waubesa: 846.20'
Press Release
7/19/2019 - Emergency Slow-no-wake orders have been issued for the following lake(s):
Wiicawak Bay (Entire Surface),
Please note: Slow-no-wake will be effective sunrise July 20, 2019. Slow-no-wake will be rescinded when Lake Monona water level is at or below elevation 846.40' for 5 consecutive days.
Executive Order
11/20/2018 - Emergency Slow-no-wake orders have been issued for the following lake(s):
Please note: slow-no-wake has been rescinded for Lake Kegonsa.
Rescinding Order
11/15/2018 - Emergency Slow-no-wake orders have been issued for the following lake(s):
Please note: slow-no-wake has been rescinded for Lake Monona.
Rescinding Order