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Town of Manitowish Waters, WI
Vilas County
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Code
New Laws (1) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Manitowish Waters 6-9-2004; amended in its entirety 10-19-2020. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 275.
A. 
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the waters of the Town of Manitowish Waters.
B. 
This chapter shall be enforced by the Town of Manitowish Waters Water Safety Patrol and any other authorized law enforcement officer.
C. 
The Town of Manitowish Waters Water Safety Patrol is authorized to enforce disorderly conduct, as defined below, § 151-4, both on and off water.
The intent of this chapter is to provide safe and healthful conditions for the enjoyment of aquatic recreation consistent with public rights and interests and the capability of the water resources.
State boating laws as found in §§ 30.501 to 30.715(6), Wis. Stats., are adopted by reference.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Whoever, in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC)
Any watercraft as defined by § 30.50(9d), Wis. Stats.
SLOW-NO-WAKE
That speed at which a boat moves as slowly as possible while still maintaining steerage control.
WATER-SKI
A motor boat or PWC towing a person using a water-ski(s), inflatable tube or raft, aquaplane or similar device or any other towing of a person not in or on another boat.
A. 
Water-skiing hours.
(1) 
No person shall water-ski or operate any motorboat or PWC towing a person engaged in water-skiing or similar activity between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., local time.
(2) 
This Subsection A does not apply to ski tournaments, competitions, exhibitions, trials, or practices for such events where adequate lighting is provided and such event is duly authorized by the Town Board of Manitowish Waters.
B. 
Water-ski pickup and drop area at Rest Lake: Rest Lake Park from 100 feet north of the fishing pier to the north boundary of the park. Restrictions:
(1) 
A pickup and drop area is only established when the area is marked with regulatory markers.
(2) 
Duly authorized ski tournaments, competitions, exhibitions, trials or practices for such events may be given exclusive use of the pickup and drop area for designated periods of times as authorized by the Town Board of Manitowish Waters.
No person shall operate a PWC between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., local time.
No person shall operate a boat or PWC faster than slow-no-wake in any marked slow-no-wake area or at any time in the following waters:
A. 
Island Lake: an area in the westernmost part of Island Lake known as "Sleight's Bay"; all of Sleight's Bay south of a line from the northwest tip of Bals Point northwest to the west shore.
B. 
Manitowish Lake: the entire bay known as "Little Manitowish Lake" located on the south shore of Manitowish Lake.
C. 
Trout River:
(1) 
From Alder Lake to Manitowish Lake.
(2) 
From Wild Rice Lake to Alder Lake.
D. 
Manitowish River: from Stone Lake to Rest Lake.
E. 
The channel from:
(1) 
Little Star Lake to Manitowish Lake.
(2) 
Manitowish Lake to Spider Lake.
(3) 
Spider Lake to Stone Lake.
(4) 
Island Lake to Spider Lake.
(5) 
Clear Lake to Fawn Lake.
(6) 
Fawn Lake to Stone Lake.
F. 
Waters located in neighboring communities: as allowed by regulations in neighboring communities for the Town of Manitowish Waters to enforce its regulations.
G. 
Motor boat prohibited area. No person shall operate a motorboat, as defined in § 30.50(6), Wis. Stats., that is propelled by an internal combustion engine or engines. Electric motors only are permitted on the following waters:
(1) 
Statehouse Lake (T42N, R5E, S5).
The Town of Manitowish Waters shall place and maintain a summary of this chapter at all public access points within the jurisdiction of the Town of Manitowish Waters.
Wisconsin State boating penalties as found in § 30.80, Wis. Stats., are adopted by reference. Wisconsin State Class B misdemeanor penalties as found in § 939.51(3)(b) Wis. Stats., are adopted by reference.
Any and all violations of this chapter shall be subject to a forfeiture not less than $100 or greater than $500, plus costs.