By: Deb Muehlenbein
October 2024
The Lake Committee was sanctioned by the Board of Directors to help with guidance on the health and safety of our biggest asset-Heritage Lake. Part of our responsibility is the annual review of the Lake Rules, revise as needed, then send to the board for approval. We basically use the laws of the State of Indiana, but also created a few over the years that apply to our private lake. With these rules, it is our(and the Board’s) goal to keep our lake clean and safe as possible.
From the 2024 Lake Rule Book, page 5.
The boating and fishing laws of the State of Indiana apply to any situation not addressed by Heritage Lake POA Rules. Boating and fishing laws of the State of Indiana shall apply to all waters under the jurisdiction of Heritage Lake, including ponds, and to all watercraft navigating or moving thereon and all fishing thereon. The Heritage Lake Board reserves the right to adopt rules and regulations that may be more restrictive than the boating and fishing laws of the State of Indiana.
There will always be some who think “we have too many rules!” or “we need another rule!” but our goal is to help us all understand the rules we have in place. We will strive to have an article in the HL newsletter each month to highlight a particular rule. Our first article will be about “no wake,” a very fun subject!
Boating Rules and Regulations, Level 3 Safety Rules, page 9
VIOLATIONS OF ANY LEVEL 3 SAFETY RULE WILL RESULT IN A $50.00 FINE AND A TEN (10) DAY SUSPENSION OF LAKE PRIVILEGES.
#3. Prior to entering a “no wake” zone, the operator of a watercraft must reduce the speed of the watercraft to “idle speed” or “no wake” speed.
As defined by our Rules on page 2, the definition of “idle speed” or “no wake” speed is as follows-
Means the slowest speed to maintain steerage, whereby the wake or wash created is minimal and not to exceed 5 miles per hour.
This is how we see it-
If you wait until after you have entered the no wake zone, it takes a few moments for the water to calm down or dissipate, and those waves have an outward lingering effect on any watercraft anchored fishing or anchored with people in the water. Depending on how big your watercraft and wake are, it could have a big effect on the shoreline too. Slowing down to a speed that leaves no discernible wake preserves the environment and shows respect to fellow boaters and property owners. So, PRIOR to entering a no wake zone, please slow down to idle speed.
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