The Department of Environmental Conservation has announced its proposed rules for wake boats on Vermont Lakes. The regulations will require the operation of wake boats and wake sport activities to stay 500’ from shore, in waters 20’ or deeper, and on lakes with 60 contiguous acres. There will also be a “home lake” rule that will require wake boats to stay on one lake for the entire summer unless they have been decontaminated at a state-approved site. For those that feel these proposed rules do not go far enough to protect Vermont inland lakes, please consider advocating for 1,000’ from shore. There is a public hearing scheduled for August 1, 2023, at 5:00 pm at the Richmond Free Library. There will also be an opportunity to attend a virtual hearing on August 3, 2023, at 5:00 pm.

Written comments are being accepted until August 10, 2023, by 4:30 pm and should be sent to: anr.wsmdlakes@vermont.gov (please put “wake boats” in the subject line).

*****************PLEASE NOTE ******************

IF YOU PLAN ON MAKING COMMENTS AT THE UPCOMING PUBLIC HEARING, IT IS IMPORTANT TO READ THE FOLLOWING!

Whether making verbal or written comments:

First, introduce yourself with your name, the lake you enjoy, and any other information that lets ANR know who you are.
Second, make it clear that you are speaking or writing to support the proposed rule, but also to strengthen it either by keeping them 1,000 feet from shore or banning them completely.
Third, tell ANR why these boats need to be regulated. The more personal and heartfelt your reasons, the better. Consider including a mix of environmental, public safety, and recreational reasons.
Fourth, close with a summary of what you support, such as,

– I support the proposed rule, but want to see it strengthened to 1,000 feet; or

– If we cannot ban wake boats altogether, then I support the 1,000-foot offset.

Verbal comments must be 2 minutes or less and written comments should be short, less than 250 words.

Send your written comments via email to the Agency of Natural Resources at any time, with Wake Boats in the subject line, to anr.wsmdlakes@vermont.gov . Make sure you send it early enough to arrive by August 10, 2023, at 4:30 pm.

For more information go to: ResponsibleWakes.org.

ELPA Votes To Prohibit Wake Boats and Wake Sports Activities on Echo Lake

The Department of Environmental Conservation is currently proposing new regulations for wake boats. The rules will require wake boats to stay 500 feet from shore, operate in water deeper than 20 feet, and in lakes that have at least 60 contiguous acres. There is also a “home lake” rule that would require wake boats to remain on one lake during the summer unless they have been decontaminated at a state-approved station.

ELPA believes these regulations are inadequate and ineffective in protecting our lake and lake users from wake boats. Therefore, at the Annual Meeting on Saturday, July 22, 2023, the Echo Lake Protective Association members voted to petition the state of Vermont to prohibit wake boats and wake sports activities from operating on Echo Lake.

The arguments for this petition will include the following: Degradation of our Water Quality and threatening our A(1) Reclassification eligibility, not a “normal” use of our lake, the likelihood of AIS transport, safety and enforcement issues, and destruction of our fish population, fish habitats, and endangerment to our nesting loons.

How association members can help: Please send your thoughts, comments, and concerns about wake boats to E.L.P.A. (Echolakepa@gmail.com). We would love to hear your stories on how having wake boats on Echo Lake will disrupt the quiet, serene, and peaceful existence we have all come to love about Echo Lake. We would like to include these personal stories in our petition.

A Fact Sheet About Wake Boats and Wake Sports

What is a Wake Boat?

A wake boat is not like a conventional motorboat. A wake boat, by design or modification, has one or more functioning ballast tanks or a system for the purpose of enhancing or increasing its wake while under power. Some boats can create waves as high as 4 feet, thus allowing wake surfing or wakeboarding behind the boat without a tow line.

What is the State of Vermont Doing About Wake Boats?

New legislation is being considered that may regulate these boats by keeping them 500 ft. from shore and in waters deeper than 20 ft. The purpose of these particularized rules is because wake boats produce extreme and powerful wakes that can cause shoreline erosion, bottom scouring, damage to personal property, and injury to other lake users.

Why is ELPA Petitioning to Ban Wake Boats?

Echo Lake is a pristine lake with high-quality water and no aquatic invasive species (AIS). Allowing wake boats to operate on Echo Lake would severely jeopardize our lake’s health by stirring up the lake bottom and releasing stored-up phosphorus, which contributes to the premature aging of our lake and degrades water quality. In addition, this stirred-up sediment can harm fish and disturb their habitats. These strong waves can also erode our shoreline, disturb our nesting loons, and damage docks and moored vessels. Because wake boats cannot fully empty their ballast tanks the threat of AIS being transported to Echo Lake is possible.

Safety Warning:

If you encounter one of these boats while engaged in fishing, paddle sports, sailing, swimming, or any other activity in the lake, please be sure to take extra caution. If you have a negative experience with a wake boat, please contact ELPA (Echolakepa@gmail.com) to share this interaction.

More Information can be found at: Responsiblewakes.org