Wakeboats and Water Quality
In July 2025, the University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) released a report on the impacts of wakeboats and other recreational powerboats on a lake's water column and bottom sediments.
The study included data from two field seasons, seven boats, four study sites, and multiple sensor systems including underwater and aerial video. The purpose of the study was to better understand the environmental impacts on lakes by recreational powerboats. Study objectives were to:
- Clarify and define the various hydrodynamic phenomena that are created by a recreational powerboat in motion, and how these phenomena vary with water depth and mode of operation.
- Investigate the depth of penetration and duration of emission gases (e.g., engine exhaust bubbles).
- Investigate the water column velocities and depth of penetration of the bow, stern, and transverse waves and their potential to resuspend lakebed sediment.
- Investigate the propeller wash velocity and depth of penetration, and the potential to resuspend lakebed sediment.
- Investigate the effects of repeated boat passage on thermal stratification and mixing in the water column.
- Capture underwater and aerial video of the hydrodynamic phenomena and any subsequent impacts (e.g., sediment resuspension).
Study's wakeboat recommendation: Wakeboats should operate in 20 feet of water or greater when in semi-displacement (surfing) mode to minimize impacts to the lake bottom.