Abandoned boats are being left on the shores of Wisconsin’s rivers and lakes. Not only are these boats difficult and expensive to remove, but it can be unclear who is responsible for removing them when the owner will not or cannot. After months of watching one of these boats sit on the shores of Milwaukee throughout the winter and well into the spring, Wisconsin lawmakers proposed changing state policy to address the state’s abandoned boat problem. In the policy brief below, we take a deeper look at the issue, the proposed legislation, and potential responsive actions that could deter boat owners from abandoning vessels while at the same time quickening government response time for boat removals.
Citation:
Ehrlich , E., Scanlan, M. (2025). Abandoned Boats in State Waters: Achieving a Clear and Efficient Response in Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Publications
Read our policy brief here: