Wewoka Lake has a new set of rules for watercraft operators, and officials say the changes were necessary because the lake’s shoreline has been eroding.

City Manager Mark Mosley said a study from the Oklahoma Institute at East Central University shows the lake has lost about 30 feet of shoreline since the late 1990s, and action needed to be taken to protect the lake.

“This lake is our city’s water source, and we have to protect it,” Mosley said. “There are places where you can wade out 50-75 yards and still be only waist deep. We want to correct the problem and turn it around. The new rules may not be in place long term. Hopefully, this is just a short-term inconvenience.”

In addition to the new rules, which were adopted unanimously by the lake board as well as the city council, the number of watercraft permits issued this year is significantly lower than last year.

“Last year we issued 185 permits, and 120 were wave runner permits,” Mosley said. “In a typical year, we issue 90-100 permits, but last year was an anomaly because of the COVID pandemic. People wanted to get away to the lake, and they came here because other lakes were closed. This lake is not that big and having too many boats on it is dangerous.”

Following is a synopsis of the new rules:

Operators must have a current permit for the watercraft, and it must be displayed. No wakeboats or any boat with a ballast, in use or not. (A ballast is usually a metal weight or other heavy cargo placed in the hull of a boat). No boats over 26 feet, not including pontoon boats. No boats with more than one gas motor, not including pontoon boats. All watercraft must go in a counterclockwise direction and must stay in the main body of the lake and stay away from the shorelines. Watercraft cannot go up in the coves and go around and around making waves. Coves are a no-wake area. A 35-mph speed limit is in effect. All wake buoys must be obeyed.

The rules state that violators could get banned from the lake and the city has the right to pull boat and/or jet ski permits and privileges at any time.

Mosley said that contrary to rumors circulating throughout the county, fishing is still allowed at the lake. “Hopefully, it won’t be as crowded as it was last year,” Mosley said. “We want everybody to come out to the lake and enjoy it.”