Will DEC’s amended wakesports rules be in place for the 2026 Boating Season?
We continue to work diligently to get DEC’s amended wakesports rules in place for this summer’s boating season.
Following the close of the extended public comment period in February, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is preparing its Responsiveness Summary, based on input from hearings and written comments submitted by lake users and other stakeholders.
We expect the rules may be submitted to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR) by April 13, so that they might get on the agenda for the May 7 LCAR meeting.
If adopted as proposed, the amended rules would:
- reduce by at least eleven the number of Vermont’s inland lakes where wakesports are allowed.
- increase separation between wakesurfing activity and other lake users.
- require decontamination before moving wake boats from one lake to another.
While these changes may not address every concern, they represent a meaningful step toward improving lake safety and protecting lakes from further spread of aquatic invasive species.
LCAR’s role is to review the rules to ensure they are consistent with statutory authority and were developed through an appropriate public process. It’s not LCAR’s responsibility to debate the substance of the rules, but to pass on their legitimacy.
We may call on you to help once again to remind LCAR members how important these rules are for your lake. If you’d like to volunteer to do some outreach in this regard, please let us know. We will share more information if and when additional outreach could be helpful.
With you, we are looking forward to safer and cleaner lakes for 2026.
Please forward this newsletter to friends and neighbors who might be interested.
Lakes expected to fall off the wakesports-eligible list:
- Lake Fairlee
- Holland Pond
- Lake Hortonia
- Lake Iroquois
- Joe’s Pond
- Miles Pond
- Lake Parker
Peacham Pond- Shadow Lake (Glover)
- Sunset Lake
- Waterbury Reservoir
Lakes subject to additional measurement:
- Harvey Lake
- Fairfield Pond