Photo Credit: Mike Preus

Those of us who own property on Tabor Lake know how lucky we are. At 170 acres, and with its connection to beautiful wetlands and the Minerva Flowage, Tabor Lake is big enough for us to enjoy many on-the-water activities such as boating, fishing, water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, or lounging on our favorite floatation device. However, Tabor Lake is also small enough that if we are not aware of each other and intentional about following good on-the-water etiquette and courtesy, we run the risk of impinging on each other’s enjoyment and potentially causing injury to each other and the lake that we love.

  • Using the Boat Landing

    Whether you or your guests are using the public boating landing at the end of Bradshaw Road or you are launching from your own dock, below are some tips to keep Tabor Lake healthy and prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species, Wisconsin law requires that you:

    • Inspect your vessel, trailer, and equipment, and remove any attached plants and animals before launching and before leaving the area and traveling on a public highway.

    • Drain all water from all boats, motors, trailers, boat equipment, and fishing equipment before you transport the boat, trailer, or equipment away from that body of water or its shore.

    • Drain all water from any boat being transported over land before the boat enters Wisconsin from another state.

    Boat safety (WI DNR Legal requirements)

    • All vessels (including canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards) must have at least one USCG approved life jacket (PFD) on board for each person. See https://www.boat-ed.com/wisconsin/handbook/page/9/Chapter-2-Required-Equipment/ for types of PFDs allowed

    • Federal law requires children under 13 to wear a PFD when a boat is underway.

    • Unlawful to operate a boat fast enough to create a wake within 100 feet of the shoreline, a dock, another boat (including kayaks and canoes), or someone swimming (unless the boat is helping the swimmer).

    • Because the navigable portion of the wetland connecting Tabor Lake to Robie Lake is less than 100 feet from shore, it is unlawful to travel through the wetland at speeds fast enough to create a wake.

    • Unlawful to exceed the speeds posted or charted in any specific zone or area.

    • Unlawful to jump the wake of any vessel that is towing a person on water skis, inner tube, or any other devise.

    • Unlawful to operate a boat within any area marked off or set aside as a prohibited area for swimming.

    • Unlawful to operate a boat repeatedly in a circuitous pattern within 200 feet of another person or watercraft of any type.

    • When 2 boats are approaching each other, the boat with greater speed yields the right-of-way (e.g. motor boat or PWC yields to pontoon; motorized boats yield to sail boats, canoes, or kayaks)

    • Unlawful to operate a boat or use water skis while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (specifically blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater)

    Personal watercraft (PWC) /Jet ski

    • Federal law requires person on a personal watercraft wear a PFD when the craft is in operation. See https://www.boat-ed.com/wisconsin/handbook/page/9/Chapter-2-Required-Equipment/ for types of PFDs allowed

    • PWCs can not be operated between sunset to sunrise

    • No one under the age of 12 may operate a PWC

    • It is unlawful to operate a PWC at faster than “slow, no wake” within 200 feet of shore of any lake

    • Because the navigable portion of the wetland connecting Tabor Lake to Robie Lake is less than 200 feet from shore, it is unlawful for PWCs to travel through the wetland at speeds fast enough to create a wake.

    • It is unlawful to operate a PWC within 100 feet of another vessel, jump a wake with a PWC within 100 feet of another vessel, or weave a PWC through congested waterway traffic

    • It is unlawful to chasing, harassing, or disturbing wildlife with a PWC

    Protecting our shoreline, wetland, and wildlife

    A number of properties on Tabor Lake have experienced significant shoreline erosion over the past few years. We can protect our shoreline by remembering that it is:

    • Unlawful to operate a boat fast enough to create a wake within 100 feet of the shoreline or a dock.

    • It is unlawful to operate a PWC at faster than “slow, no wake” within 200 feet of shore of any lake

    • View loons from a respectful distance of at least 200 feet. Intentional harassment of loons is illegal under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and carries a fine of $5000 and a 6-month jail sentence. http://www.mercerwi.com/loons.htm

    • Tabor Lake’s loon nest is on the west side of the North Bay. Do not create wake within 200 feet from a loon nest.