The Emergency Management Commission in Dickinson County put into place a 600-foot no-wake zone along shore of East & West Lake Okoboji, Upper and Lower Gar, Minnewashta Lake, Silver Lake at Lake Park and Center Lake, effective immediately.
The water level on Iowa’s Great Lakes is more than two feet above crest, which is over topping docks, damaging shorelines and causing erosion. The no-wake zone will be in effect until further notice.
DNR conservation officers will advise boaters of the no-wake zone and work on posting signage at the public boat ramps. The 300 foot buoys will not be moved to reflect the 600 foot zone, so boaters are asked to use the 300 foot buoys as a reference to double their distance from the shore before increasing speed above 5 mph.
“Boaters that don’t obey the 600 foot no-wake zone can cause significant lakeshore damage and potentially impact critical infrastructure during with these high water levels,” Mike Hawkins, DNR fisheries biologist. “Boaters are asked to be mindful of their wake on all lakes.”
The emergency rule will remain in effect on East and West Okoboji, Upper and Lower Gar and Minnewashta lakes until the lake level drops below 6.05 feet and remains below that stage for three consecutive days. The rule will remain in effect for Silver and Center lakes until further notice.
The DNR and emergency management officials will continue to monitor other lakes throughout the area to determine if action is necessary.