DNR reports rise in Wisconsin boating crashes this year

PEWAUKEE, Wis. — State and local authorities urged boaters to prioritize safety on Pewaukee Lake during the holiday weekend, as families headed onto the water for one of the final major boating weekends of the year. Officers Edward Ciano and Emma Yandre with the Pewaukee Police Department patrolled the lake Saturday morning, checking on boaters and reminding them to prepare before leaving home. 'You should plan your day out accordingly,' Ciano said. 'We're all used to getting in our car and packing up and going somewhere, and we have our routines for our automobiles. But I think people forget boating is just like that.' The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said at least 22 boating-related crashes have happened so far this year, a more than 45% increase from last year. In most cases, the victim was not wearing a life vest, according to the DNR. Ciano said conditions on the water can change, even on familiar lakes. 'Water is a living, breathing organism, and it's not the same every day,' Ciano said. 'You come back one year from now. Yeah, it looks the same but the lake has changed.' Authorities also warned boaters about low water levels tied to a statewide drought. Shallow water can make it easier for rocks and holes to damage boats. Yandre said officers are seeing low levels on Pewaukee Lake, including in areas where buoys mark hazards such as large rocks. 'Unfortunately, if the water levels are getting lower, I mean, we can't mark every low point in the lake,' Yandre said. 'So, that's why it's just important to be like super cautious and aware of your surroundings.' Police said they planned to maintain an extra presence on the water to help keep boaters safe through the weekend. Officers said they are watching for boats traveling too close to others, as well as jet skis operating on the lake.