App Aims To Help Boaters In Central Wisconsin Waters

Boaters will find it easier to navigate waterways in central Wisconsin thanks to a new app developed by University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

The Wisconsin Waterways app is the result of years of research. The UWSP Geographic Information Systems Center collected more than 120,000 data points on 2,800 acres of the Stevens Point Flowage. Three years ago, contour and depth information was gathered for Lake Wausau and 11 other lakes in Marathon County.

Researcher and Education Specialist Christine Koeller said the new app will help both recreational boaters and emergency responders.

“It’s going to locate your position, and then it’s going to show you the depth information underneath,” said Koeller. “It will show you the contours. So for example, you may be between a 10-foot and a 15-foot contour, and then you’ll know that the depth range within the area where you’re located is between 10 and 15 feet deep.”

The free Wisconsin Waterways app also shows old log pilings, parks, boat launches and municipal boundaries. It is currently only available for Android users.