The deadline for public comment has expired. Contact the agency or primary contact person listed below for assistance.
Rule Details
Rule Number:
25P045
Title:
Vermont Use of Public Waters Rules.
Type:
Standard
Status:
Adopted
Agency:
Agency of Natural Resources
Legal Authority:
10 V.S.A. §§ 1424(a); 1460; 1461(e);
Summary:
The proposed amendments to the Use of Public Waters Rules clarify the petition submission and review process and clarifies the procedures for municipal delegation under 10 V.S.A. § 1424 by authorizing full or partial delegation with State oversight, auditing, and revocation authority. Further, the amendments establish a process for emergency temporary use restrictions and clarifies enforcement of aquatic invasive species transport and decontamination requirements. The wakesports provisions are substantially modified by eliminating the "Home Lake" rule and proof of decontamination requirements, prohibiting wakesports within 500 feet of loon nesting sites and from other users, and requiring wakesports zones to meet new acreage, length, and configuration standards. The Department of Environmental Conservation will maintain an online list of eligible lakes, reducing the number of wakesports-eligible waters from 30 to 18.
Persons Affected:
All recreational users of Vermont's public waters; Motorized and non-motorized boat owners; Wakeboaters, wakeboarders, and wakesurfers; Anglers, Swimmers, Water Skiers, and Wildlife Enthusiasts; Boat Retailers and Marinas; Outdoor Recreation Businesses and Vermont Summer Camps; Lake Associations; State Police Marine Division and Fish and Wildlife Wardens; and Shoreland Property Owners.
Economic Impact:
An economic analysis of the impact of these rules considered impacts to wakeboat operators and users and to other users of public waters. Because the total amount of wakeboat operations in Vermont are estimated at less than 1 of all motorized boat usage, overall economic impacts to the boating industry are negligible. Removing wakesports from 12 additional lakes will reduce conflict for other users and support Vermont’s lake-based recreational economic activity. Removing the Home Lake rule will reduce costs in administering a sticker program. The allowance for temporary emergency closures will protect private property and public health. Other proposed amendments to the Use of Public Waters Rules are administrative in nature and are economically neutral.
Posting date:
Dec 24,2025
Hearing Information
Information for Hearing # 1
Hearing date:
Location:
Brandon Town Hall
Address:
49 Center Street
City:
Brandon
State:
VT
Zip:
05733
Hearing Notes:
Also virtually via MS Teams: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting Meeting ID: 290 972 004 630 68 Passcode: tS7uP3Rt or call in (audio only) 802-828-7667, 780771711#
Phone Conference ID: 780 771 711#
