Silver Lake Buoys
No-Wake and Hazard Buoys
The Village of Salem Lakes is responsible for the placement and maintenance of all No-Wake and Hazard Buoys on Silver Lake.
Prior to 2017 (when the Village of Silver Lake and the Town of Salem combined to form the Village of Salem Lakes), the Village of Silver Lake placed and maintained a ring of No-Wake Buoys on Silver Lake.
In 2024, the Village of Salem Lakes, following current state rules and regulations, secured WDNR permits for 19 No-Wake Buoys on Silver Lake. The No-Wake Buoys generally are located 200' from shore where there are swimming areas, multiple pier boat docks, launch ramps, and other areas of boater activity. They are spaced along the shoreline to guide boaters to keep away from the shore.
Boaters are only allowed to proceed at "idle-speed" in the area between the No-Wake Buoys and the shoreline (personal watercraft operators take note -- not making a wake while going fast does NOT prevent you from getting a ticket for violating No-Wake rules). Boating at speed is only allowed on the lake side of an imaginary line drawing from one No-Wake Bouy to the next.
The Village also places Hazard Buoys to warn boaters to avoid two shoal areas on the lake.
Four Hazard Buoys are positioned on the lake side of the shallow-water shoal area in the northwest area of the lake (south of the undeveloped point of land in that area the lake). This large shoal has offshore reeds growing ot of the water, a rocky bottom at the northern end, and mud banks that are exposed during times of low lake levels.
A second set of six Hazard Buoys stand guard around the shallow-water shoal in the southwest area of the lake (north of the point of land at the mobile home community). This large shoal also has offshore reeds, significant areas that are very shallow, and a rocky bottom off the point.
Boats can carefully enter the shoal areas but should do so only at idle-speed. Boats at speed entering the shoal areas will come to a sudden halt if/when the lower engine and propeller hits the bottom, often causing lower unit damage and even injury to passengers.
Click below for an aerial map of the placement of the No-Wake and Hazard Buoys.
Swim Buoys
Kenosha County installs Swim Buoys around the Silver Lake County Park swimming beach along the northeast shore of the lake.
The Village of Salem Lakes has Swim Buoys marking the DeWitt Park swimming area along the southwest shore of the lake.
Boats are never allowed to enter swimming areas marked with Swim Buoys.
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