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Vermonters showed their depth of support for wake boat regulation on February 15 in Greensboro when a wave of citizens flowed into the hearing where the Department of Environmental Conservation heard comments on their draft rule to regulate wake boats on Vermont lakes. A deluge of 100 participated on-site, while 170 streamed online. Of the…

The week ahead will be important for those interested in the future of Vermont’s lakes and ponds. On Wednesday, February 15, DEC conducts a meeting to gather commentary on its draft wakeboat rule. Last week, we saw a flurry of press reports and opinion in favor of RWVL. This newsletter provides information and advice to…

The wakeboat rule being drafted by the Department of Environmental Conservation moves Vermont in the right direction, but not far enough. DEC’s draft proposes that wakeboats operate at least 500 feet from shore. RWVL’s petition, supported by current science and by the reality of life on Vermont lakes, calls for an offset of 1000 feet.…

The Department of Environmental Conservation will be taking public commentary on its draft rule for the management of wakeboats on Vermont lakes on February 15, 2023. The meeting will take place from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick Street, Greensboro, Vermont, and also online. We hope, that as a supporter…

Citing $93 Million Annual Benefit To Regulating Wake Sports Montpelier, Vermont, February 2, 2023 – Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes (RWVL) petitioned Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) in March 2022 to manage wake sports on Vermont inland lakes to limit the growing adverse impacts caused by wake sports’ artificially large wakes. RWVL has provided the ANR with an economic impact…

Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes (RWVL) applauds and supports the decision by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to move forward with rulemaking and establish a new Public Water Use Rule, thereby recognizing the importance of protecting our inland lakes and ponds. RWVL strongly supports the rule drafted by DEC and recommends its further strengthening…

Vermont is not alone in recognizing that science, experience, and good sense provide a strong basis for requiring wake boats to operate significantly farther from shore than the 500 feet proposed in the DEC’s draft rule. As the examples below illustrate, counties, towns, and lake authorities in states around the country have restricted wake boats to distances from shore significantly greater than 500 feet. Some have banned wake…

We have some very good news for you. But we still have some work to do.  The good news: The Department of Environmental Conservation is moving forward to recommend a rule to manage wakeboats on Vermont’s lakes and ponds. This process began with RWVL’s petition of March 2022 and gained speed through the support of…

Wisconsin residents are asking for action on the problems caused by wake boats. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, “Public concerns about damage caused by wake boats in Wisconsin have resulted in requests by Natural Resources Board members for action, including new laws, to address the issues.” Read more in the Milwaukee newspaper.

Oregon has recently banned wake sports from a long stretch of the newly-cleaned up Willamette River. A ten-minute video from Oregon Public Radio describes how they did it, and why. Click the link below to watch the video. As Portland’s Willamette River gets cleaner, it’s also getting overcrowded