Also, strong winds can make the lake dangerous for small watercraft. Listen to the radio for boating reports and small craft warnings. Boating is an important local industry, but it does contribute to some of the lake's environmental problems. Boat owners can play a major role in improving water quality in the lake by minimizing their impacts. The first step is to understand the potential impact of boating activities.
Boat wakes contribute to shoreline erosion.
While this loss of land is a problem for shorefront property owners, it also affects boaters. Eroded sediments increase nutrient introduction and cut off light to underwater life, especially plants. The clarity of the water decreases and fish populations are affected. All this creates problems for the lake ecosystem. The extent of shoreline erosion caused by boat wakes depends on the wake's energy.