The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) has submitted the proposed amendments to the Use of Public Waters Rules (UPWR) to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR) for review. ANR expects the proposed amendments to appear on the LCAR agenda for its May 14, 2026, meeting.
This review is the next step in the rulemaking process. If LCAR approves the amendments, the final step will be formal adoption of the rules. The information below, provided by ANR, outlines the remaining steps in the process and includes links to the documents submitted to LCAR.
The proposed amendments would:
- increase the minimum wakesports zone size to 100 acres;
- require a minimum 3,000-foot wakesports run;
- increase the required distance between wakesports activity and other lake users from 200 to 500 feet;
- increase the required distance from nesting loons from 300 to 500 feet; and
- require the decontamination of ballasted boats before moving between lakes.
The minimum wakesports zone depth would remain 20 feet.
If adopted, the amended rules would prohibit wakesports activity on an additional 12 Vermont lakes.
The information below, provided by the Agency, summarizes the steps in the process and provides links to the documents submitted to LCAR.
Thank you for your continued support!
Use of Public Waters Rulemaking Update
The Agency has entered the next stage of the formal rulemaking process by submitting the appropriate rulemaking documents to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR).All rulemaking documents submitted for the filing with LCAR are posted to the Lakes and Ponds webpage and listed below: https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/lakes-and-ponds-rulemaking
APA Filing Forms (LCAR Submission Documents)
Cover Letter for APA Filing Form submission to LCAR
ICAR Meeting minutes (12/08/2025)
Use of Public Waters Rules Amendments submitted to LCAR April 20, 2026 (annotated text)*
Use of Public Waters Rules Amendments submitted to LCAR April 20, 2026 (clean copy)
Rulemaking Responsiveness Summary
Written Comments received during rulemaking period
List of Wakesports Eligible Lakes under Proposed Amendments
*yellow highlighted sections indicate changes made in response to public comment period
Next Steps
The Agency anticipates that the proposed Use of Public Water Rules will be on the LCAR meeting agenda for May 14th, 2026. This date has not yet been confirmed. Keep an eye on the Lakes and Ponds Rulemaking webpage for LCAR meeting confirmation.
The Rulemaking process
- Pre-rulemaking: public meetings, comment period
- Submit proposed rulemaking to the Interagency Committee on Administrative Rules (ICAR)
- ICAR meeting and approval
- Rulemaking public meetings
- Rulemaking Comment Period
- Submit proposed rulemaking to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (ICAR)
- LCAR meeting and approval (Next Step)
- Rule adoption