By a 14-3 vote, the Vilas County Board approved a new shoreland ordinance on April 10th. The new ordinance restricts waterfront lot size based on a lakes classification system where small vulnerable lakes receive the highest level of protection.

Thanks to calls and letters from ECCOLA members and other environmental groups in the days leading up to the vote, political momentum for passage was achieved against stiff opposition from the powerful real estate lobby.  Several key Supervisors who had previously not declared their support, or opposed  stricter shoreland protections, came out in favor of the ordinance on April 10th.  The campaign to pass the important shoreland protection ordinance again shows how committed citizen action by ECCOLA can truly make a significant difference.

The new law goes into effect on May 1, in time for this summer’s building season.  The new ordinance isn’t simply a rewriting of the old ordinance with a few twists, rather, it embarks on a new concept of lake classification to place the tightest restrictions on waterbodies that are the most vulnerable to overdevelopment.   Every one of Vilas County’s 1300 lakes is categorized into one of nine classifications based on size, sensitivity to pollution and level of development.   For example, on trout streams and lakes under 50 acres, any newly platted lot will have to contain at least  300 feet  of frontage and 60,000 square feet  of areas for the entire lot.