Discuss and recommend extension of the no wake zone between the Oshkosh Avenue bridge and Wisconsin Street bridge
BACKGROUND
At its meeting on Monday, September 9, 2024, the Advisory Park Board will discuss a request to extend the no wake zone in the Fox River. Section 30.77 of the Wisconsin Statutes authorizes the City of Oshkosh to enact ordinances applicable on the waters of the State that lie within its jurisdiction. Such regulations are specifically authorized to include restrictions on speed.
There is currently established a No Wake Zone within the Fox River in and around the Oshkosh/Congress Avenue Bridge in the municipal code.
SECTION 17-29 _ SPEED LIMITS FOR MOTORBOATS
No person shall drive or operate a motorboat at a speed in excess of slow-no-wake speed on the following waterways:
Fox River, from a point 900 feet south of the Canadian National Railroad bridge north-northwesterly to a point under or through the Oregon/Jackson Street bridge; under or through the Wisconsin/Ohio Street bridge, under or through the Oshkosh/Congress Avenue bridge from a point 1,600 feet south/downstream to a point 1,900 feet north/upstream of the bridge.
The city has received a request from the Riverwatch Condominium Association, located at 240 N. Campbell Road, to extend the no wake zone in the Fox River to encompass the entire river between the Oshkosh Avenue bridge to the Wisconsin Street bridge. The request is being made due to reported erosion along their shoreline property. This matter will be considered by the Advisory Parks Board at the meeting and ultimately the Common Council will make a final decision on the request at an upcoming meeting.
By statute, the Common Council is required to take into account certain factors when considering whether to exercise its authority to enact ordinances applicable on any waters of the State of Wisconsin. These factors are:
The type, size, shape and depth of the body of water and any features of special environmental significance that the body of water has.
The amount, type and speed of boating traffic on the body of water and boating safety and congestion; and
The degree to which the boating traffic on the body of water affects other recreational uses and the public's health, safety and welfare, including the public's interest in preserving the state's natural resources.
After consideration of these factors, the Common Council will ultimately determine whether or not to extend the no wake zone as requested. If approved, the placement of additional navigational aides or buoys would be required and the Wisconsin Administrative Code requires that application be made to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for approval of the proposed placements of these. City staff would make the appropriate application to the DNR.
Included in your packet is correspondence from individuals opposed to the no wake extension.
