Vermont considers regulations limiting wake boats
In the last few years, wake boats have skyrocketed in popularity. These boats are designed to create bigger waves than a typical motor boat and are often used for sports such as wake surfing, where someone can surf behind the boat on the wake alone.
Wake boats, however, may be subject to regulations soon.
The boats also leave a significant impact to other recreators, animals and the lakes themselves. This is what one group argues in their petition to introduce regulations on wake boats.
On March 9, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation received a petition from an organization called "Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes" according to DEC environmental analyst Laura Dlugolecki. The 94-page petition calls for regulations to be added to the Use of Public Water Rules.
These proposed regulations include the extension of the "no-wake Shoreline safety zone" to 1,000 feet, the allowance of wake sports only in 20 feet and greater depth, and a required "a minimum 60-contiguous acre area for a Wake Sport Zone," according to the petition.
The department is taking public input on the petition to regulate wake boats on Vermont waters.
No current regulation
There currently are no rules or regulations regarding the use of wake boats in Vermont ponds and lakes, according to Dlugolecki. However, some Vermonters want to see that changed. Daniel Sharpe is a member of the group "Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes." He, among other group members, noticed the impact of wake boats on small Vermont lakes.
"The waves from these wake boats, which can be three or four feet, erode the shoreline. That’s the first thing we notice about them, in terms of the ecosystem," Sharpe said.
The organization formed in March 2021 after noticing the effects of wake boats on the lakes they knew and lived on in Vermont. The original plan was to propose regulations to protect user, wildlife, and shorelines of these particular Vermont lakes, such as Lake Iroquois in Hinesburg, and Lake Raponda in Wilmington.
However, as the group continued, they adapted to a petition that would orient towards a statewide plan. Sharpe emphasizes that "Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes" does not seek to eliminate wake boats from Vermont waters.
"Our proposal doesn’t ban wake boats at all," said Sharpe. "It identifies venues, we call them wake-sport zones in our proposal, and there would be maybe as many as 20 lakes in Vermont where there would be a wake-sport zone."
Public comments on the petition will not influence any regulations, but rather offer opportunity for input as the DEC decides whether to move forward with rule-making.
Past regulations on personal watercraft
This is not the first time the DEC has received a petition of this nature. In 1995, they received a petition to regulate the use of personal watercrafts such as Jet Skis, Dlugolecki said. The petition ended up creating the now state regulation that personal water crafts are not allowed on lakes smaller than 300 acres. However, the process from petition to rule-making is not linear, or guaranteed.
"So, we received this petition, and the petition is for us to make a rule about the use of wake boats. And before we decide whether or not we’re going to go forward with rule-making, we want to take public comment," Dlugolecki said.
After the public comment period, the DEC will "review the petition, review the science and the data and the public comments, and make a response to the public comments," Dlugolecki said.
It is after this that the department will make a recommendation whether to start a formal rule-making process. If they do decide to initiate rule-making, it may not be exactly what the group has proposed either.
How to comment
The first public meeting on the petition was Wednesday, June 29. The second meeting will be on July 7 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Manchester Community Library. The meeting is open to attendance via Microsoft Teams as well. More information can be found here: Public Meeting for Use of Public Waters Rules | Department of Environmental Conservation (vermont.gov).
People may send comments to the DEC on the petition and wake boats in Vermont by email to laura.dlugolecki@vermont.gov or through mail:
Attn: Laura DlugoleckiVermont Department of Environmental ConservationWatershed Management Division1 National Life Drive, Davis 3Montpelier, VT 05620-3522
Kate O'Farrell is a reporter for the Burlington Free Press. You can contact her at KOFarrell@freepressmedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont looks into regulating wake boats on lakes
