{"id":1522,"date":"2026-01-08T13:24:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T18:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/?p=1522"},"modified":"2026-02-02T21:29:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T02:29:12","slug":"your-voice-matters-the-future-of-vermonts-lakes-is-being-decided-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/?p=1522","title":{"rendered":"Your Voice Matters: The future of Vermont\u2019s lakes is being decided right now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The boating industry is fighting to stop essential improvements to statewide wakesports rules designed to protect our lakes and our safety. Don\u2019t let corporate lobbying drown out the voices of Vermonters and others who come to our state to enjoy recreating here.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please take a few minutes to submit your comments and help ensure the DEC hears from the people who respectfully use and work to protect our lakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This past summer, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) solicited public comments on its proposed changes to the Use of Public Waters Rules (UPWR) adopted in April 2024 to regulate wakesports on Vermont\u2019s inland lakes.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See brief DEC summary:&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dec.vermont.gov\/sites\/dec\/files\/documents\/Summary%20of%20UPW%20changes_2025rulemaking.pdf\">LINK<\/a>. <\/strong>And&nbsp;UPWR full document with highlighting of the DEC changes:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dec.vermont.gov\/sites\/dec\/files\/documents\/Use_of_Public_Waters_Rules_TrackChanges.pdf\"><strong>LINK<\/strong><\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"811\" src=\"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Paddlers-on-a-beautiful-VT-Lake-1024x811.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1521\" srcset=\"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Paddlers-on-a-beautiful-VT-Lake-1024x811.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Paddlers-on-a-beautiful-VT-Lake-300x238.jpg 300w, http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Paddlers-on-a-beautiful-VT-Lake-768x609.jpg 768w, http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Paddlers-on-a-beautiful-VT-Lake.jpg 1296w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes (RWVL) supports key elements of the final proposal,&nbsp;<\/strong>including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Increasing the minimum size of the wakesports zone (WSZ) from 50 to 100 acres (This will reduce the number of wakesports eligible lakes from 30 to 18.)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explicitly requiring that a WSZ must accommodate a 3,000 ft run<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prohibiting wakesports within 500 ft of other users and nesting loons&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clarifying that wake boat decontamination is required before entering a lake&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While these are positive steps<strong>, there are key areas where the rule can\u2014and should\u2014be strengthened<\/strong>.&nbsp;RWVL urges DEC to incorporate new science and the Precautionary Principle to better protect Vermont\u2019s waters and users. We recommend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Minimum 30-foot water depth<\/strong>&nbsp;requirement (Supported by new studies, including the Lake Waramaug research.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.warrenct.gov\/sites\/g\/files\/vyhlif3991\/f\/uploads\/lake_waramaug_final_report.pdf\"><strong>LINK<\/strong><\/a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>700-foot setback<\/strong>&nbsp;from shorelines, loon nests, and other lake users (The St. Anthony Falls Laboratory&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/conservancy.umn.edu\/items\/bd2d2968-21c4-4726-8a61-53e7daafcb56\">study<\/a>&nbsp;recommended over 500 ft for wave height and, more importantly, 600 ft for wave power. During the initial drafting of the 2024 rule, the <a href=\"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Approval-Memo-Wakeboat-Rule-Modifications-from-Comments-for-LCAR13-1.pdf\">DEC staff recommended 600 ft<\/a>. Incorporating the Precautionary Principle supports a 700 ft setback.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Adding an explicit statement of and commitment to the Precautionary Principle<\/strong>&nbsp;within the UPWR such as this:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/15968832\/v\">\u201cWhen an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Amending the UPWR to include a statement that wakesports are NOT a \u201cnormal\u201d use and therefore require special consideration and rules that differ from those that apply to \u201cnormal,\u201d i.e., traditional, uses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Importantly, RWVL does not support the DEC&#8217;s decision to remove the Home Lake rule,<\/strong>&nbsp;which we still believe is the most effective way to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) from one lake to another.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Your Help Now is Absolutely Critical \u2013 Here\u2019s What You Can Do<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We need to pack the public hearings scheduled for January 27 and February 4 \u2013 and we need to generate hundreds of comments in support of strengthening the 2024 wakesports rule.&nbsp;&nbsp;We expect the wake boat proponents will be out in force to resist further restrictions during this process.&nbsp;<strong>Your voice in support of the added restrictions is critical.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Make your voice heard, share your concerns:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Express support for the updated rule, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Request the stronger protections discussed above<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Attend a Public Meeting:&nbsp;<\/strong>You may attend&nbsp;<strong>in person or online.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Public meetings will be held:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>January 27<\/strong>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<strong>Brandon<\/strong>, 5:30\u20138:00 p.m. Sign up to speak&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/g\/6UNTcELQft\"><strong>LINK<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>February 4<\/strong>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<strong>Barre<\/strong>, 5:30\u20138:00 p.m. Sign up to speak&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/g\/RqLAjgw216\"><strong>LINK<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Meeting locations, instructions on how to attend online, and additional details can be found at this&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dec.vermont.gov\/watershed\/lakes-ponds\/lakes-and-ponds-rulemaking\"><strong>LINK<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Submit a Written Comment to the DEC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Submit your comment using the form&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/g\/jJukgRmvXz\"><strong>LINK<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Or by email\u00a0<\/strong>(for longer comments or attachments)<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>to\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:ANR.WSMDLakes@vermont.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ANR.WSMDLakes@vermont.gov<\/a>.\u2028 Please include \u201cwakesports\u201d in the subject line\u00a0\u00a0AND please send a copy to us at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:responsiblewakesvt@gmail.com\">responsiblewakesvt@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Deadline for written comments:<\/strong>&nbsp;Friday, February 20, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Every Voice Makes a Difference<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you for standing strong with us to protect Vermont\u2019s lakes for wildlife, traditional recreation, and future generations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The boating industry is fighting to stop essential improvements to statewide wakesports rules designed to protect our lakes and our safety. Don\u2019t let corporate lobbying drown out the voices of Vermonters and others who come to our state to enjoy recreating here.&nbsp; Please take a few minutes to submit your comments and help ensure the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1522"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1553,"href":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1522\/revisions\/1553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/responsiblewakes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}