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A few rules to remember and share:

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Lac La Belle is owned by the state of Wisconsin and is for use by everyone. It is the responsibility of the boat operator to know boating safety rules while operating their watercraft on Lac La Belle and Okauchee lake. All boating rules can be found at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Boat.

  • Please know your life jacket requirements. All vessels require at least one US Coast Guard (USCG) approved wearable life jacket for each person on board. Each person on board a personal watercraft (PWC) requires one too! Also don’t forget that vessels 16 feet or more in length must have a USCG approved throwable personal flotation device on board that is immediately accessible.

  • Boats must be operated more than 100 ft away from any shoreline, dock, raft, pier, or restricted area on a lake if you are going faster than Slow-No-Wake Speed (SNW). SNW means a speed at which any vessel moves as slowly as possible while still maintaining steerage control.

  • A PWC must be operated more than 200 feet away from any shoreline, dock, raft, pier, or restricted area on a lake and more than 100 feet away from any boat if you are going faster than SNW Speed.

  • 10 mph max speed limit from Sunset to Sunrise. (Sunset times are published by the DNR.)

  • A person may not be towed behind a vessel between Sunset and Sunrise.

  • Your wake can cause damage to people, other watercraft and property and no one enjoys being tossed around on the lake! State law prohibits a motorboat to approach or pass another boat in such a manner to create a hazardous wake or wash and you can be liable for any damage caused to the person or property from the wake or wash.

  • Also, please be aware that not everyone enjoys the same musical tastes at loud volume. Adjust your music and volume accordingly.

  • Be aware of all official buoys placed in the lake and especially those noting the restricted swimming areas of Woodland, Park Street and Bender Beach as you move about the lake. Mooring buoys must extend 18 inches above the waterline, be white in color with a blue band clearly visible above the waterline, and they should be spherical or ovate in shape. Additional buoy information can be found at: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Waterways/recreation/buoys.html

  • The lakeshore belongs to individual property owners along with the piers, recreational equipment-ie. rafts, floating trampolines, slides, lifts and watercraft that are in the lake. Please stay off this type of equipment unless invited to do so by the property owner.

  • Lights matter! Running with dock lights or carp fishing lights illuminated on the front of your boat is illegal. If you enjoy nighttime fishing for carp, please ensure your lights do not shine into people’s windows. The LLBMD has received several complaints about this in the past.

Take care of yourself and others. Be responsible and have fun!

Enforcement

  • Enforcement is provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Conservation Wardens and the Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. If you see something happening that shouldn’t be, report it. The DNR’s 24 hour hotline can be reached at 800-847-9367 (800-TIP-WDNR). Any identifying characteristics about the boat or people is considered helpful.

  • The Town of Oconomowoc Police and City of Oconomowoc Police patrol the lake at random times throughout the boating season and also provide enforcement and safety information to lake enthusiasts. If you see something that should be reported, please dial 911 for all emergencies.

  • If it’s a non-emergency, please dial:

    • City of Oconomowoc – 262-567-4401

    • Town of Oconomowoc – 262-446-5070 – goes to Waukesha County Dispatch-inform them you need to speak to an officer related to an incident on Lac La Belle or Lake Okauchee.

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