Boat Wake Regulations in Canada

Shoreline damage and erosion can be massively attributed to wakes caused by vessels, particularly in narrow basins limited fetch. This impact is an increasing concern to cottage owners on small in-land lakes in Ontario. This study examines Canadian legislation and local regulations designed to limit erosion. The objective is to determine if boat wakes are a contributor to shoreline erosion. A predictive model was created to determine the range of expected impacts using local regulations based on the Muskoka Lakes area (76 lakes total) and through common vessels found on these lakes. These results were compared to cottage owner perspectives on vessel activity, erosion, and safety hazards. The goal is to provide a methodology to examine boat wake impacts on fetch limited in-land lakes that can be used to design new regulations aimed at mitigating these concerns.