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Ordinance Restricting Certain Artificial Wake Enhancement:   ORDINANCE NO. 2025-001        Town of Palmyra, Jefferson County, Wisconsin AN ORDINANCE RESTRICTING CERTAIN ARTIFICIAL WAKE ENHANCEMENT WHEREAS, in the interest of public health, safety, and/or welfare, including the public's interest in preserving natural resources, the Town of Palmyra (“Town”) has the authority to enact ordinances covering waters within its jurisdiction if the ordinances are not contrary to or inconsistent with Chapter 30, Wis. Stats., and they relate to the equipment, use, or operation of boats or to any activity regulated by Sections. 30.60 to 30.71, Wis. Stats.; and WHEREAS, Blue Spring Lake exists wholly in the town; and WHEREAS, artificially enhanced wakes can cause environmental damage to lakes and lakeshore, including resuspension of sediment adding nutrients to the water and increased risk of algal blooms, turbidity, shoreline erosion, and threats to aquatic life and waterfowl; and WHEREAS, boats with ballast systems increase the likelihood of aquatic invasive species being introduced and spread on lakes; and WHEREAS, artificially enhanced wakes can damage shoreline, lake bottom, moored boats, and shoreline structures including docks; and WHEREAS, operating boats in a stern down manner creates downward prop wash, disturbing the lake bottom far below the wave zone, 20 feet and more below the surface; and WHEREAS, artificially enhanced wakes can endanger swimmers, anglers, and other watercraft; and WHEREAS, the use of ballast and wake enhancing fins can cause unsafe operation by causing the bow to rise obscuring vision forward; and WHEREAS, the Town submitted a draft of this ordinance to the Wisconsin DNR for advisory review at least 60 days prior to passage, pursuant to 30.77(3)(d), Wis. Stats.; and WHEREAS, the Town Board, after considering public comments and any DNR suggestions, determines that adopting this Ordinance is consistent with all other ordinances of the Town and would promote the public health, safety and welfare, including the public's interest in preserving natural resources; and NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Supervisors of the Town of Palmyra, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, does hereby ordain as follows: Section 1. Applicability and Enforcement: The provisions of this ordinance shall apply to all waters wholly within the Town of Palmyra, Jefferson County, Wisconsin. This ordinance shall be enforced by all officers of Jefferson County, Wisconsin and all other individuals empowered to enforce ordinances in this Town. Section 2. Certain Artificial Wake Enhancement Prohibited   Prohibited Equipment. No person may use or employ ballast tanks, ballast bags or fins, or any other method, to cause a boat to operate in a bow-high manner, or which increases or enhances a boat's wake. Prohibited Operation. No person may operate a boat in an artificially bow-high manner having the effect of increasing the boat's wake. Such prohibited operation shall include wake enhancement by use of ballast tanks, or ballast bags, or fins, or continuous operation at transition speed (the speed below planing speed in which a boat is operating in plowing mode), and similar methods. For the purpose of this provision, “continuous operation” shall mean “operation that is not acceleration for the purpose of achieving a state of planing”. Certain Operations In no event shall any of the following operations be deemed a violation of this Ordinance, provided such operations do not use or employ ballast tanks, water sacks or wake enhancing fins: i) water skiing, ii) tubing, iii) cruising via pontoons, iv) wake boarding employing a tow rope; v) transition operation to empty a boat of bilge water, or vi)  transition operation of a boat accelerating into a planing condition. Related Current Wisconsin Laws Under Sec 30.68(4)(a), Wis. Stats. No person shall operate a motorboat so as to approach or pass another boat in such a manner as to create a hazardous wake or wash. Under Sec 30.68(4)(b), Wis. Stats. An operator of a motorboat is liable for any damage caused to the person or property of another by the wake or wash from such motorboat unless the negligence of such other person was the primary cause of the damage. Under Sec 30.66(3)(a), Wis. Stats. No person may operate a motorboat within 100 feet of any dock, raft, pier, or buoyed restricted area on any lake at a speed in excess of slow-no-wake. Under Sec 30.66(3)(ag)1, Wis. Stats. No person may operate a motorboat, other than a personal watercraft, at a speed in excess of slow-no-wake within 100 feet of the shoreline of any lake.                                 By adopting this Ordinance, the Town also adopts all of the above Wisconsin Statutes and all other state laws and administrative codes for hazardous wake and water draining/aquatic plant and animal removal.     Section 3.  Penalty. Wisconsin state boating penalties as found in s. 30.80, Wis. Stats., and deposits established in the Uniform Deposit and Bail Schedule established by the Wisconsin Judicial Conferences, are hereby adopted by reference, except all references to fines are amended to forfeitures and all references to imprisonment are deleted. To the extent that the penalty for any violation of this Ordinance is not provided under Wisconsin state boating penalties as found in 30.80, Wis. Stats., any person violating this Ordinance shall face a penalty of not more than $500 for the first offense and not more than $1000 for the second and subsequent offenses within one year. Deposits established in the WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT FEE, FORFEITURE, FINE AND SURCHARGE TABLES shall also apply to any violation.   Section 4.    Severability. Should any portion of this Ordinance or the affected Code Section(s) be held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder shall not be affected.   Section 5.        Effective Date. Upon adoption, this Ordinance shall take effect the day after publication or posting.   Ordinance introduced by Board member Martens, who moved its adoption.  Seconded by Board member Sauter.  AYES: Sauter, Martens.  NOES:  Gajewski.  ABSENT:  N/A  ADOPTED:  April 14, 2025.   Enacted: April 14, 2025                    TOWN OF PALMYRA     By    Frank Sauter                                                         Frank    Sauter     , Town Chair                                CLERK'S CERTIFICATE OF ENACTMENT  I hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was duly enacted by the Town of Palmyra Board of Supervisors on the date indicated above.   Dated: April 15, 2025              Michele Smith , Town Clerk     Posted on Town of Palmyra website News and Notices:     4/17/25

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Palmyra Named an Ice Age Trail Community

 

Palmyra Named an Official Ice Age Trail Community
Jefferson County village becomes 25th community to receive the official designation

 

Cross Plains, Wis. (April 15, 2025) — Palmyra, a village nestled in south central Wisconsin already known for its multitude of recreational opportunities, will now be recognized as a premier hiking destination, thanks to its designation as an official Ice Age Trail Community.

The Ice Age Trail Community program, led by the Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA), helps communities leverage the draw of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail as an economic and social engine.

Palmyra is the 25th community along the Trail to receive the official designation and the first for 2025.

“The positive economic impact hikers have on our Trail Communities cannot be understated”, says Luke Koberdanz, Executive Director and CEO of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. “They are shopping local and interacting with residents in a very meaningful way. Any positive experience these hikers have results in return visits and enthusiasm in promoting the community to family and friends.”

Within a three-block area downtown, the village of Palmyra boasts hiker-friendly restaurants, a coffee shop, public library, free internet access, medical services, and laundry facilities. Great amenities for day hikers or thru-hikers.

“We are so excited to collaborate with the Ice Age Trail Alliance as an official Ice Age Trail Community and to offer a warm Palmyra welcome to hikers here in the heart of the Kettle Moraine,” says Kristine Dexheimer, Director of Powers Memorial Library.

 

The partnership between the IATA and Palmyra encourages mutual support with a goal of building a healthier and more vibrant community.

Peter Fritsch, owner of Palmyra’s Rushing Water Fisheries says, “We are thrilled for more visitors to experience Palmyra’s natural beauty and small-town charm. This is a wonderful and historic part of our great state.”

Community Celebration: May 18

A Trail Community Celebration will take place Sunday, May 18 at 1 p.m. at Horseriders’ Campground just outside of Palmyra. Additional details will be released on IceAgeTrail.org in advance of the event.

This celebration is free and open to the public. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the Ice Age Trail and Ice Age Trail Alliance.  

 

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About the Ice Age National Scenic Trail:

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a 1,200-mile footpath contained entirely within Wisconsin. It

traverses the state from St. Croix Falls in the west, to Sturgeon Bay in the east, going as far

south as Janesville. One of 11 National Scenic Trails, the Ice Age Trail highlights the

landscapes that were carved out by ancient glaciers, which happen to be some of the most

beautiful areas in the state. Approximately 60% of Wisconsin residents live within 20 miles of

the Ice Age Trail.

 

About the Ice Age Trail Alliance:

The Ice Age Trail Alliance is a nonprofit, member- and volunteer-based organization which

conserves, creates, maintains, and promotes the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. For more

information visit IceAgeTrail.org.