Wake surf boating has become an increasingly popular activity on Minnesota's lakes in recent years. But the high waves caused by the boats - intended by its design so that persons following the boat can surf - are a cause of concern due to potential shoreline erosion and harm to lake ecosystems. Researchers from the University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) studied this issue and released their findings in February, indicating that waves produced by wake surf boats when wake surfing are not only higher, but they also require greater distance to decrease to the same height as wake waves from more typical recreational boats. SAFL intends to initiate another phase of the research to investigate the impact of wake surf boating on lake bottom habitats.
Steve Frawley, the president of SafeWakes, joins us this morning to talk about this study.
