Maine Officials Ask Boaters To Watch Their Wake

A Maine game warden operates a boat while patrolling a lake. (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Photo)

Maine officials are asking boaters to take extra care to reduce their wakes this season because of unusually high water levels in lakes and ponds.

According to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife officials, the water levels in the state’s lakes and ponds are higher than normal this year, which when combined with boat wakes can make shorelines extra vulnerable to erosion.

Officials are asking boaters operating on lakes and ponds that have increased water levels to consider reducing their speed and wake even outside of the headway speed zone to lessen their impact.

“Headway speed” means the slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering and control of the watercraft.

Boaters in Maine are required to operate a watercraft at “headway speed” while within 200 feet of any shoreline, including islands, and within a marina or an approved anchorage in coastal or inland waters.