[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Green Lake
County 9-17-2013 by Ord. No. 1060-2013.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation — See Ch. 187.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch.
266, Watercraft, adopted 2-20-1990 by Ord. No. 408-90, as amended.
This chapter is adopted under the authority granted by § 30.77(2),
Wis. Stats.
This chapter shall be known as the "Green Lake County Watercraft
Ordinance."
This chapter shall regulate the operation of all types of watercraft
on any and all navigable waters lying in Green Lake County.
Pursuant to the authority granted by § 30.77, Wis.
Stats., Green Lake County does hereby adopt the provisions of § 30.50
through § 30.71, Wis. Stats., and the same are by reference
made a part of this chapter as if fully set forth herein.
The definitions of words and phrases as they appear in § 30.50(1e)
through (14), Wis. Stats., are hereby adopted and by reference are
made a part of this chapter as if fully set forth herein.
No person shall operate a power-driven boat or watercraft faster
than a "slow-no-wake" speed in an area so marked. The term "slow-no-wake
speed" shall mean that speed at which a boat moves as slowly as possible
while still maintaining steerage control. Slow-no-wake areas shall
be so designated by notices posted.
A.
The Sheriff or his/her designee and/or the Emergency Management Director
or his/her designee shall be responsible for obtaining the water level
elevations to determine the necessity for a slow-no-wake posting.
B.
Such postings shall be made when the water level exceeds elevation
of 13.0 feet as based on the bench mark located at United States Geological
Survey Gauge BERW3 0473500 Latitude 43°57'14", Longitude
88°57'08", in NE 1/4 sec. 16, T.17 N., R.13 E., Green Lake
County Hydrologic Unit 04030201, on left bank, 0.4 mile downstream
from government dam, 1.0 mile South of Huron Street Bridge in Berlin,
2.5 miles upstream from Barnes Creek, and at mile 89.0; or when the
water level exceeds elevation of 9.5 feet as based on the bench mark
located at United States Geological Survey Gauge PCNW3 04073365 Latitude
43°51'04", Longitude 89°08'00", in SE 1/4 NW 1/4
Sec. 24, T.16 N., R.11 E., Green Lake County, Hydrological Unit 04030201
on right bank at upstream side of bridge on State Highway 23, at Princeton,
Wisconsin.
C.
Said slow-no-wake areas are located within the Official City boundaries
of Berlin and Princeton.
D.
Notice.
(1)
The County shall place and maintain a synopsis of this chapter at
all public access points within the jurisdiction of the County pursuant
to the requirements of § NR 5.15, Wis. Admin. Code.
(2)
The County and affected municipalities shall coordinate a public
announcement and/or news release, delivered through local media outlets.
Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be
subject to penalties as provided for in § 30.80 of the Wisconsin
Statutes and deposits as established in the Uniform Deposit and Bail
Schedule established by the Wisconsin Judicial Conference, which are
hereby adopted by reference with all references therein to "fines"
amended to "forfeitures" and all references to "imprisonment" deleted.
Watercraft may be operated on all navigable waters within Green
Lake County in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and
the referenced portions of Wisconsin Statutes except for private impoundments
that are not a part of public waterways, such as farm ponds and settling
ponds. This section does not preclude the charging of reasonable fees
for launching, docking or exiting from said navigable waterways by
either riparian owners or municipalities.
Watercraft covered by this chapter include all craft normally
termed as boats (rowboats, canoes, sailboats, dinghies, punts, motorboats,
yachts, launches, etc.), hovercraft, airboats, inflatable boats and
rafts, motorized personal watercraft, e.g., jet skis and similar craft,
and any other conveyance used for water transportation.
The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office shall enforce the
provisions herein. The District Attorney shall, upon receipt of a
complaint from the Sheriff's Office, institute appropriate legal
proceedings against alleged offenders.
The provisions of this chapter shall be deemed severable, and
it is expressly declared that the Green Lake County Board would have
passed the other provisions of this chapter irrespective of whether
or not one or more provisions may be declared invalid. If any provision
of this chapter or the application to any person or circumstances
is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter and the application
of such provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be
affected.
