BIG CEDAR LAKE RESIDENTS
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Protection and Rehabilitation District – Condensed Boating Ordinances pamphlet
Not all lake residents or public visitors to Big Cedar are fully aware of the lake boating ordinances. Two of the commissioners (Dave Baldus and Matt Haldemann) have been working on the preparation of new 3×5 laminated cards with a condensed listing of the boating regulations. Similar cards were distributed in the past, but none have been available for several years. The distribution of cards with the condensed boating ordinances will aid in communication to many boaters who may not know all the boating rules on Big Cedar.
The speed limit by time and day of week and slow-no-wake within 200 ft offshore are two rules that all boaters on Big Cedar should be clear about. There are also other ordinances as well as recommendations.
The distribution plan has two parts. First, one card will be mailed to each property in the district. Many property owners may appreciate the reminder and clarification of local boating ordinances. The second part of the distribution is to hand out cards to boaters at the public launch. The boating ordinances are posted at the Gonring public launch. The boat launching process can be hectic and boaters may not notice or might not take the time to read the posted ordinances. The boaters can take the card with them and review the information later.
Protection and Rehabilitation District – Plant Management Study
For the weed harvesting permit from the DNR, Big Cedar PRD is required to provide an Aquatic Plant Management plan once every 5 years. At the November 16, 2022 monthly PRD Commissioner’s meeting it was decided to start researching firms that could perform the Plant Management Plan required by the DNR for the 2023-2028 weed harvesting permit. The likely options are a point intercept plan or a comprehensive plan. Usually, the PRD has obtained a point intercept plan. The last comprehensive plan was done in 2001 by SEWRPC. A comprehensive study could include the Aquatic Plant Management plan along with a wide variety of other issues that could impact the quality of Big Cedar Lake including watershed mapping, ground water recharge, water quality trend over time, PH and oxygen level changes.
State Lake Organizations
Big Cedar POA officers have been establishing relationships with two organizations within Wisconsin; Wisconsin Lakes and Lake Country Clean Waters. We would like to know more about how other lakes are handling issues. POA directors have attended a few conferences and forums sponsored by these groups, as well as in-person meetings.
We believe other lakes in the state face the same issues that Big Cedar does. We would like to learn more about these organizations and see if they are working on the issues that also concern us. State-wide organizations have more impact presenting issues to the state DNR or the state legislature than a single lake would have.
Wisconsin Lakes, formerly known as the Wisconsin Association of Lakes, is a statewide non-profit organization working to protect and enhance the quality of Wisconsin’s 15,000 lakes. For more than 20 years, Wisconsin Lakes has worked toward statewide solutions for the challenges faced by our natural water resources while supporting strong local protection efforts. Wisconsin Lakes seeks to protect the natural wonder of our lakes, and preserve our collective right to boat, fish, hunt, ice skate, swim and enjoy the scenic beauty of our shared public waters.
Lake Country Clean Waters is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the conservation of Lake Country’s lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. They work to achieve goals by promoting communication and acting as a sounding board for special districts, associations, conservation groups, municipalities, and community members. They host quarterly meetings and the Healthy Lakes Conference to keep members informed of important water related issues.
Enhanced Wave Boats
Many lake organizations are expressing concerns about the impact of wake boats on the lake environment. The enhanced wake creates extreme down and sideways pressure that poses potential disturbance to shoreline, shallow lake ecosystem and fish habitat. Big Cedar POA officers have been gathering information and following developments for the last couple of years. We have not taken a position or any action regarding wake boats on Big Cedar. The role of the POA currently is to share the information we have with our members.
Several POA officers saw a presentation in April on a wave study done on North Lake. The study was done by Terra Vigiis Environmental Services (TVES) in cooperation with Carroll University and Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC). Multiple synchronized camera measured wave action above and below the surface. It compared wave action from a speed boat, jet ski and wake boat. North Lake has imposed no new boating ordinances. Boaters are asked to voluntarily comply with recommendations that wake boating should be in a minimum 3 feet water and 400 ft from shore. The North Lake Management District did report that compliance was a problem.
POA officers also saw a presentation in October on a wave study done on Ashippun Lake. The presentation described the wave properties of wake surfing vs wake boarding. Wake surfing has high downward water pressure. Wake boarding has high sideways water pressure. Included in the presentation was information that Bass Lake in Sawyer County has regulation specifying enhanced wave operation must be in a minimum of 24 in water and 700 ft from shore. Crystal Lake in Seboygan County prohibits all “wave enhanced” boats. Ashippun Lake implemented no new ordinances but informs boaters it recommends operation in the middle lake at least 500 ft from shore. Ashippun Lake reported compliance is a problem.
Big Cedar Lake is Frozen Over
I received information from John and Sharon Mueller that by their “official” measurement, Big Cedar Lake froze on December 22, 2022. The chart below, shows the ice on and ice off they have recorded since 2001. I know the Best family has kept ice on and ice off records for many many years. I suspect the dates are similar.
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ICE ON | ICE OFF |
| 2001-2002 | 1-2-2002 | 4-8-2002 |
| 2002-2003 | 2-3-2003 | 4-4-2003 |
| 2003-2004 | 1-7-2004 | 3-29-2004 |
| 2004-2005 | 12-31-2004 | 4-7-2005 |
| 2005-2006 | 12-14-2006 | 3-31-2006 |
| 2006-2007 | 1-21-2007 | 3-27-2007 |
| 2007-2008 | 2-7-2008 | 4-18-2008* |
| 2008-2009 | 12-16-2008 | 3-31-2009 |
| 2009-2010 | 12-31-2009 | 3-31-2010 |
| 2010-2011 | 12-14-2010 | 4-10-2011 |
| 2011-2012 | 1-17-2012 | 3-14-2012 |
| 2012-2013 | 1-1-2013 | 4-19-2013 |
| 2013-2014 | 12-17-2013 | 4-15-2014 |
| 2014-2015 | 12-19-14/1-3-15* | 4-5-2015 |
| 2015-2016 | 1-13-2016 | 3-16-2016 |
| 2016-2017 | 1-11-2017 | 3-8 or 12, 2017* |
| 2017-2018 | 12-20-2017 | 3-31-2018* |
| 2018-1019 | 1-11-2019 | ? |
| 2019-2020 | 1-18-2020 | 3-25-2020 |
| 2020-2021 | 2-3-2021* | 3-23-2021 |
| 2021-2022 | 1-7-2022 | 4-8/9/2022* |