2024-Aug-23
Dr. Chris Houser Shares His Research on Boat Wakes
There is mounting evidence that excessive wakes too close to shore or where waters are too shallow cause shoreline erosion and negatively impact marine life and water quality as well as posing a risk to swimmers, paddlers and other boaters.
Dr. Chris Houser, the Dean of Science at the University of Waterloo, has spent years studying wave energy in Georgia, Texas and Florida. For the past three years, he has concentrated his research on Ontario’s lakes, specifically looking at recreational boat wakes and their impact. Dr. Houser and student researchers installed and tracked wave measurement sensors in more than 30 different locations in Ontario. In busy lakes, such as Lake Muskoka and Lake Joseph, the sensors detected as many as 120 to 130 waves per hour. His work provides a strong scientific rationale for new wake regulations and was shared at a recent Safe Quiet Lakes webinar.
Watch the webinar: