Town of Cable bans wake surfing on all lakes

After holding a public hearing, the Town of Cable Board voted unanimously Wednesday April 17 to ban the controversial sport of wake surfing on all lakes within the township.

The ordinance states that “no person shall use motorboat hydrofoils, submersible wings, ballast tanks, uneven loading or similar devices or methods which causes a motorboat to operate in a bow high manner or which increases or enhance a motorboat’s wake. This does not prohibit temporary running with bow elevated to reach planing speed or bow elevated to discharge water accumulated from rain or leakage.”

Members of the Lake Tahkodah and Cable Lake Associations said they support the ordinance. The ordinance will be posted at public boat launches on all lakes.

The ordinance does not restrict water skiing.

Town Chairman Malcolm Haag said the town will ask the DNR or the sheriff’s office to enforce the ordinance. He asked lake associations to assist with enforcement by taking photos of offenders’ boats and reporting offenders to authorities.

He added that “since signs have been out, we haven’t had any violations on Tahkodah.”

An audience member said that “We’ve found that neighbors’ harassment has quite an effect” on offenders.

A man said the Town of Drummond has jurisdiction on Lake Owen.

In other business, Town Clerk Bobbi McCauley said the town has received a $3,500 matching grant from Bayfield County Forestry and Parks to improve Timber Trail Road.

Town resident Sue Roza said there will be a “Make Music Day” in Cable on June 21, the day of the summer solstice. There will be multiple venues and music groups, and free access to the public. She agreed to submit a permit application.

In actions, the board:

•• Approved the Chequamegon 100 bike race on June 22; approved the Epic Bike Fest June 7-9; and approved the CARE 10K walk-run on July 4.

•• Voted 4-1 to approve a 35 mph speed limit on Telemark Road and Spider Lake Fire Lane from County Road M to the Sawyer County border, which is part of the new Wisconsin Rustic Road 125. Supervisor Jamie Holly voted against the proposal.

•• Voted to apply for a Bayfield County Wellness Initiative $5,000 matching grant to improve restrooms at the town park and community center.