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The Wisconsin Recreational Boaters Association,
Inc. (known as WisBOAT) organized under Section 501(c)
(3) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, was
founded in February 2005 after the Wisconsin Dept.
of Transportation (WisDOT) advised local communities
of a $430,000 shortfall in the DOT operating budget
that would reduce the navigational season and hours
of lift bridge operation on the Winnebago Watershed.
Simultaneously, WisDOT initiated dialogue with the
United States Coast Guard whereby the Coast Guard
would withdraw jurisdiction over the Wolf River-Lake
Winnebago-Fox River System bridges. Had this come
to fruition, waterways would have been inaccessible
to patrol and rescue boats and placing recreational
boaters at safety risk.
Recreational boaters banded together with
a grass roots effort to ensure safe boating for
all with their appeal to the U.S. Coast Guard to
retain their jurisdiction and WisDOT to provide
adequate funding to keep our waterways safe and
accessible. The need became clear for an organization
to promote statewide boating safety education,
keeping users apprised of changes that could adversely
affect safe navigational access on our lakes and
rivers. We found that making positive waves produces
positive results for the safety and enjoyment of
all recreational boaters, ensuring recreational
opportunities and a thriving economy from tourism
and recreational impact throughout the state.
What began as a grassroots effort has become
an organization to provide a voice- a source of
information and education for the safe use and
navigation by water of users throughout Wisconsin.
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