The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office issued a no wake advisory for lakes in the northeast area of Blue Earth County including Madison, George, Duck and Ballantyne because of unusually high water levels due to the recent heavy rainfall. Many docks are underwater, which causes safety concerns with boats traveling at increased speeds. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources defines no wake as the “slowest possible speed to maintain steerage, but no greater than 5 mph” on the DNR website at; http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/nowake/index.html.
No wake regulations are designed to protect boaters and swimmers from wake jumping, inability to steer, sudden turns and floating debris. They also help limit shoreline erosion, especially during high water levels.