Wake-surfing ordinance on hold as lawsuits proceed, Elcho board advised

Phil McGrath reported on two Last Wilderness Alliance sessions at the Rivers and Lakes Convention and said the 2026 Wisconsin legislature did not pass statewide wake-boat or wake-surfing legislation, leaving the matter to town governments. He said LWA is offering support to the district and the Town of Elcho for local ordinances.

Jeff McKinney, representing the Town of Elcho, told the commissioners that “the Elcho Town Board will not pass an ordinance until the pending lawsuits are settled.” Board members and audience participants discussed the environmental effects of wake surfing and large wake boats, including a concern that disturbance to the lake bottom can release phosphorus into the water column, which contributes to algae blooms; blue-green algae was reported on the lake last summer.