JOINT RESOLUTION URGING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO STUDY AND REGULATE THE IMPACT OF WAKE BOATS ON RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC WATERWAYS (Urges DEM to study and regulate the impact of wake boats on Rhode Island public waterways.)

Plain-English Summary

This resolution asks Rhode Island's Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to take a closer look at "wake boats" — large, powerful recreational boats specifically designed to create big waves for water sports like wakeboarding and wakesurfing. The resolution urges DEM to study how these boats affect Rhode Island's public waterways, including potential damage to shorelines, aquatic ecosystems, water quality, and the safety of other people using the water.

Beyond just studying the issue, the resolution also urges DEM to develop regulations to address any harmful impacts that the study might uncover. This could eventually lead to rules about where, when, or how wake boats can be operated on Rhode Island lakes, ponds, rivers, and other public waters — though no specific rules are created by this resolution itself.

This resolution would primarily affect recreational boaters who own or use wake boats, as well as people who live near or use Rhode Island's public waterways for activities like swimming, kayaking, fishing, or simply enjoying the shoreline. Environmental groups and lake associations concerned about shoreline erosion and habitat disruption would also have a stake in this issue. It's worth noting that a joint resolution like this does not create any new laws on its own — it simply expresses the legislature's wishes and encourages a state agency to act.