Investigating Shoreline Impacts Of Boat Wakes & Understanding Stakeholder Response: A Case Study Of East Pond

Two people paddling a canoe at sunset

Institution: Colby College
Sponsor: Maine Water Resources Research Institute

Team Lead

Team Members

  • Alison Bates, Assistant Professor, Colby College
  • Danielle Wain, Lake Science Director, 7 Lakes Alliance

This study addresses water quality in Maine lakes resulting from waves, which is a multifaceted challenge. Wind and boat wakes can cause waves that contribute to shoreline erosion and habitat degradation, reduction in property values and lake-based recreation, and reduced enjoyment of the lake. This study will provide measurements to identify the relative impact of wind and boat wakes on shoreline erosion and habitat disruption and sediment transport in large lakes. This study will also gather information with stakeholders and from community members who experience wind and boat wake driven waves, and identify the preferences and tradeoffs of lake management options in order to protect water quality. The research team will thus be able to make evidence-based recommendations that can inform decisions to minimize impact, particularly where boating impacts (if any) are implicated.

Interim Report

This study examines how waves influence the water quality of Maine lakes, addressing both physical and social dimensions of lake management. Wind and boat wakes can create waves that lead to shoreline erosion, habitat loss, reduced property values, and diminished recreational enjoyment. We measured waves produced by boats during waterskiing, wakeboarding, and wakesurfing and measured how these waves propagated to the shoreline. We also queried stakeholders and community members to understand their experiences with wave impacts and their preferences for managing lake use. Our findings show that wakesurfing produces larger wave heights and stronger near-bottom currents compared to waterskiing, increasing the potential for sediment disturbance and shoreline erosion. A second set of experiments revealed that lake-bottom shape strongly influences how waves dissipate; over flatter areas, wakesurfing waves persisted longer and lost less energy than over steeper slopes. Interviews with lake users indicated limited acknowledgement of the connection between boat wakes and shoreline changes, suggesting that increased education may be critical to building support for ecosystem protective policies. Together, these results highlight the need for lake management strategies that balance recreational activities with long-term shoreline and water quality protection.

Products

Presentations:

  • Madeline Tran (student), Analyzing Effects of Lakebed Topography on the Propagation of Boat-Wake Waves Generated by Wakesurfing
  • Ayseli Karabekmez (student), Bridging Science, Stakeholders, and Policy: A Qualitative Study of Boating Impacts on Maine Lakes
    Both students presented at:
    – Colby Undergraduate Student Research Retreat, 7/28/25, Forks, ME
    – Student Research Presentations, 7/31/25, 7 Lakes Alliance, Belgrade Lakes, ME
  • ES494 F24, Capstone Presentations 12/4/24, 7 Lakes Alliance, Belgrade Lakes, ME. All student presenters
  • ES494 F25, Capstone Presentations 12/3/25, 7 Lakes Alliance, Belgrade Lakes, ME All student presenters
  • Danielle Wain, Impact of Lake Bed Slope on the Propagation of Waves Generated by Wakesurfing Activities, North American Lake Management Society Annual Symposium, 11/5/25, Myrtle Beach, SC