Our Local Lake Bans Wake Surfing

[Hot2Go]

I was going to title it "Bans Wake Boats" but that's not accurate. Our local lake is Mozingo which is about 30 minutes South of us. Pretty much solidifies us not getting a wake boat if the girls ever want to surf unless we own a lake house on LOTO. Below is what the lake page released, I had no idea they were even talking about banning wake surfing. I do agree that the lake is narrow and I don't like navigating the wakes as much as the next person, especially when it's busy on a weekend. I still think there could have been a compromise, for example, certain times in the evenings or only at a certain area of the lake instead of nothing. Now the people I know that have a wake boat will have to travel at least an hour or more to find a lake that will accommodate wake surfing. All this right before the 4th weekend too.



New Wake Enhancement Ordinance at Mozingo Lake

Last night, the Maryville City Council approved a new ordinance regarding wake enhancement on Mozingo Lake. The ordinance is effective immediately.
This ordinance was developed following recommendations from the Mozingo Advisory Board and with support from Maryville Public Safety and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The shared goal was to help protect the safety of everyone enjoying the lake while preserving Mozingo's shoreline and water quality for future generations.

What does this mean?

Wake boats are still welcome on Mozingo Lake. However, ballast tanks and ballast bags must remain empty, wake-shaping devices may not be activated, and vessels may not be operated in a wake-enhanced (artificially bow-high) manner.

Why was this ordinance adopted?

After thoughtful discussions, several important factors led to this decision:

Protecting Public Safety Mozingo Lake: encompasses approximately 1,000 surface acres, but its long, narrow layout means boating activity is concentrated into a relatively confined area. Unlike larger reservoirs, the enhanced waves produced by ballast systems and wake-shaping devices can travel across much of the lake, creating challenging conditions for swimmers, paddlers, anglers, recreational boaters, and families enjoying the water. This ordinance helps reduce those risks while allowing everyone to continue enjoying the lake safely.

Preserving Our Shoreline & Water Quality: Artificially enhanced wakes carry significantly more energy than those created during normal boating. On a lake the size and shape of Mozingo, repeated wave action can contribute to shoreline erosion and stir up bottom sediments in shallower areas, reducing water clarity and impacting fish habitat. This ordinance helps preserve the natural beauty, water quality, and recreational opportunities that make Mozingo Lake one of Maryville's greatest community assets.

Our goal is not to limit recreation, but to ensure Mozingo Lake remains a safe, enjoyable, and sustainable destination for everyone who visits.
We appreciate everyone's understanding and cooperation as we continue working to balance recreation with responsible stewardship of our lake.


Below is a park map for reference.

 

[BumbleBee255]

I was going to title it "Bans Wake Boats" but that's not accurate. Our local lake is Mozingo which is about 30 minutes South of us. Pretty much solidifies us not getting a wake boat if the girls ever want to surf unless we own a lake house on LOTO. Below is what the lake page released, I had no idea they were even talking about banning wake surfing. I do agree that the lake is narrow and I don't like navigating the wakes as much as the next person, especially when it's busy on a weekend. I still think there could have been a compromise, for example, certain times in the evenings or only at a certain area of the lake instead of nothing. Now the people I know that have a wake boat will have to travel at least an hour or more to find a lake that will accommodate wake surfing. All this right before the 4th weekend too.



New Wake Enhancement Ordinance at Mozingo Lake

Last night, the Maryville City Council approved a new ordinance regarding wake enhancement on Mozingo Lake. The ordinance is effective immediately.
This ordinance was developed following recommendations from the Mozingo Advisory Board and with support from Maryville Public Safety and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The shared goal was to help protect the safety of everyone enjoying the lake while preserving Mozingo's shoreline and water quality for future generations.

What does this mean?

Wake boats are still welcome on Mozingo Lake. However, ballast tanks and ballast bags must remain empty, wake-shaping devices may not be activated, and vessels may not be operated in a wake-enhanced (artificially bow-high) manner.

Why was this ordinance adopted?

After thoughtful discussions, several important factors led to this decision:

Protecting Public Safety Mozingo Lake: encompasses approximately 1,000 surface acres, but its long, narrow layout means boating activity is concentrated into a relatively confined area. Unlike larger reservoirs, the enhanced waves produced by ballast systems and wake-shaping devices can travel across much of the lake, creating challenging conditions for swimmers, paddlers, anglers, recreational boaters, and families enjoying the water. This ordinance helps reduce those risks while allowing everyone to continue enjoying the lake safely.

Preserving Our Shoreline & Water Quality: Artificially enhanced wakes carry significantly more energy than those created during normal boating. On a lake the size and shape of Mozingo, repeated wave action can contribute to shoreline erosion and stir up bottom sediments in shallower areas, reducing water clarity and impacting fish habitat. This ordinance helps preserve the natural beauty, water quality, and recreational opportunities that make Mozingo Lake one of Maryville's greatest community assets.

Our goal is not to limit recreation, but to ensure Mozingo Lake remains a safe, enjoyable, and sustainable destination for everyone who visits.
We appreciate everyone's understanding and cooperation as we continue working to balance recreation with responsible stewardship of our lake.


Below is a park map for reference.

View attachment 246842

Impacting fish....? How do you impact a fish more than hooking it with a metal object, yanking it out of the water, and then eat it!? I missed the part where they banned fishing also.

 

[Neutron]

I can see why this happens on narrow lakes and rivers. Wakes travel and ruin shoreline and properties.

 

[Exciter 220]

Years ago they tried to ban JetSkis, too. I know a couple of lakes that only allow them on specific days or at specific times. It seems to me that they could do the same at your lake with wake surfing.

 

[Neutron]

Years ago they tried to ban JetSkis, too. I know a couple of lakes that only allow them on specific days or at specific times. It seems to me that they could do the same at your lake with wake surfing.

How does that stop damage to shoreline and erosion caused by adhanced waves in the narrow parts of a lake? The purpose is not only because of traffic and dangerous conditions to others

 

[WiskyDan]

They are starting to enact the same bans on some lakes here in Wisconsin.

I believe that there's merit to the complaints about ecological damage to shallow lakes and shoreline erosion on narrow lakes but there are also bans that are being driven by lake property owners that think they own the lake and don't want boats creating big wake even if the body of water is suitable - the "get off my lawn" crowd that also yells at fishermen that are too close to their docks.

Instead of every community creating their own set of regulations the DNR should set some guidelines (lake depth, width, distance from shoreline/docks, etc) for wake boat activities so that there's some consistency. This issue was taken up by the legislature here but has stalled with no apparent action in site.

 

[Exciter 220]

How does that stop damage to shoreline and erosion caused by adhanced waves in the narrow parts of a lake? The purpose is not only because of traffic and dangerous conditions to others

It doesn't stop it, but it will reduce it if it can only be done at certain times.

I don't like outright bans on most anything, rather I prefer solutions to problems.