Quantifying the Relative Importance of Boat Wakes in Fetch-Limited Environments
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Faculty Sponsor
Chris Houser
Proposal
Wind waves and wind-generated currents are known to contribute to shoreline change, but there is increasing evidence that vessel-generated waves (i.e., boat wakes) can cause erosion in fetch-limited environments and narrow waterways. Depending on vessel type and speed of operation boat wakes can resuspend sediment leading to shoreline erosion, habitat loss, degradation of water quality and damage to shoreline infrastructure. The number of cottages and recreational boats on inland lakes has been steadily increasing in Ontario in recent decades, which has resulted in a growing awareness of boat wake impacts and the need for research focused on their impact to shorelines. The Muskoka Lakes region (Lake Joseph, Lake Rosseau, and Lake Muskoka) is known as Canadian Cottage Country, with approximately 7,000 cottages along 480 km of shoreline. The impact of boat wakes on shoreline morphology, habitat, and infrastructure has resulted in the establishment of advocacy groups such as Safe Quiet Lakes and the need for additional data on the potential impacts of boat wakes to inform new and amended vessel restrictions and local education programs in the region and across Ontario. Using low-cost wave and water level sensors developed and built at the University of Windsor, the purpose of this study is to assess the erosive potential of boat wakes relative to wind waves at ten sites across Lakes Joseph, Rosseau, and Muskoka. These sites represent a range of different shoreline types, orientations, wave fetch lengths and vessel activity, to allow for a lake-wide assessment of the relative importance of boat wakes and wind waves to the shoreline. Results collected from the regular ice-free cottage season of 2022 (June - October) will be used for community education, inform coastal management and policy reform, and the assessment of additional monitoring needed on boat wake impacts on Ontario's inland lakes.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Quantifying the Relative Importance of Boat Wakes in Fetch-Limited Environments
Wind waves and wind-generated currents are known to contribute to shoreline change, but there is increasing evidence that vessel-generated waves (i.e., boat wakes) can cause erosion in fetch-limited environments and narrow waterways. Depending on vessel type and speed of operation boat wakes can resuspend sediment leading to shoreline erosion, habitat loss, degradation of water quality and damage to shoreline infrastructure. The number of cottages and recreational boats on inland lakes has been steadily increasing in Ontario in recent decades, which has resulted in a growing awareness of boat wake impacts and the need for research focused on their impact to shorelines. The Muskoka Lakes region (Lake Joseph, Lake Rosseau, and Lake Muskoka) is known as Canadian Cottage Country, with approximately 7,000 cottages along 480 km of shoreline. The impact of boat wakes on shoreline morphology, habitat, and infrastructure has resulted in the establishment of advocacy groups such as Safe Quiet Lakes and the need for additional data on the potential impacts of boat wakes to inform new and amended vessel restrictions and local education programs in the region and across Ontario. Using low-cost wave and water level sensors developed and built at the University of Windsor, the purpose of this study is to assess the erosive potential of boat wakes relative to wind waves at ten sites across Lakes Joseph, Rosseau, and Muskoka. These sites represent a range of different shoreline types, orientations, wave fetch lengths and vessel activity, to allow for a lake-wide assessment of the relative importance of boat wakes and wind waves to the shoreline. Results collected from the regular ice-free cottage season of 2022 (June - October) will be used for community education, inform coastal management and policy reform, and the assessment of additional monitoring needed on boat wake impacts on Ontario's inland lakes.