Name:   ecstasypoint - Subject:   Watch Your Wake Campaign Date:   7/23/2012 9:22:08 AM

I would think calling Lake Martin Resource Association would be a good start on getting a sign.  If we make it worth their while to produce and distribute the signs, I'm sure this could really have some educational value.

Watch Your Wake campaign raises awareness

By A.J. Watson, The Outlook Staff Writer

Stemming from a conversation among representatives from all the state’s major lakes, the Alabama Marine Police has adopted a Watch Your Wake campaign.

Lake Martin Resource Association and several other organizations met in downtown Alexander City in February to discuss the major issues concerning the lake population of the state, and boat wake issues were at the top of the list.

“The marine police studied what was being done on lakes across the United States to find out what they were doing to combat the issue,” Charles Borden of Lake Martin Resource Association said. “There were a lot of different approaches the lakes were using, and the marine police in Alabama decided to approach it from an educational awareness standpoint.”

Borden said that LMRA will be canvassing private marinas on Lake Martin to see if they would place a sign with the Watch Your Wake logo on their boat ramp. LMRA will also be providing signs for homeowners to place on their pier for boaters to see.

Capt. Erica Shipman of the Alabama Marina Police said that the Watch Your Wake campaign extends statewide to all public lakes and rivers to educate vessel-owners and people who use public waterways.

“This campaign is really designed to educate the public on watching their wake and the damage it can do,” Shipman said. “A lot of lakes have been experiencing issues with this. It’s a public safety concern – we met with a lot of lake associations and looked to see if there needed to be some legislation, and we wanted to do an awareness campaign before having to go to legislation.”

Shipman said that they aren’t trying to spoil the fun but rather inform the population and encourage them to be more courteous boaters.

“We’re not trying to stop people from skiing, tubing or wakeboarding or having fun in general – we’re just asking them to do it safely and not do it too close to other people or other peoples property,” she said.

In addition to soil erosion, wakes can cause docked boats to bang against each other, cracking the fiberglass and creating thousands of dollars worth of damage, Shipman said.