Marine Patrol on Lake Waukewan?
 

Just recently moved from Winni to Waukewan. I know full well the pros and cons of the MP. I noticed the last 2 weeks, I did not see any MP on Waukewan. What is the standard for them visiting this lake?

As it is very quiet and the boaters are respectful, it appears there is not a need, but just wondering what the norm is.

Thanks.

I've been going to that lake most of my life and I can probably count the number of times I've seen the MP on one hand.

Marine Patrol
 

I know that this year the marine patrol on Lake Winni has been few and far between.. however, yesterday afternoon around 5 two went flying between Sleepers Island and Rattlesnake with lights on towards Alton Bay. Anyone know what happened?

It's a bit OT for this thread so if I hear anymore I'll start another but ....

I saw the Alton FD putting someone on a stretcher at Downings and a NHMP RIB with lights on rounding Sandy Pt at full speed sometime past 5PM IIRC. Don't know anything else. I now return you to Lake Waukewan discussions.

At any given time the MP will drop in a boat at the public ramp and patrol the lake, sometimes at dusk as well. I can think of four occasions where people I know got stopped on Waukewan. I have seen on a beautiful Sunday afternoon where there are a dozen boats out on the lake and the MP comes through and in about a minute there is not a boat to be seen. Then the MP leaves and the boats come back out. People assume they will get stopped if the MP is there.

MP covers a lot of water
 

I remember last year during an SL hearing, Lt. Dunleavy mention there are about 90 full time MPO's at most on a weekend day. They are responsible for over 200 bodies of water. I can imagine what kind of priorities are given. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes when something serious happen and there was no patrol on that water.

This year I was told there was a budget cut and manpower was cut back.

Fortunately boating activities appears to be cut back as well.

Good Luck on Waukewan. It's a nice little lake.