In an effort to get productive and meaningful feedback, the DEC is hosting a webinar and two hybrid public meetings as part of a pre-rulemaking engagement process.
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation is announcing a public stakeholder process to receive input on proposed changes to Vermont’s Use of Public Waters Rules. Prior to moving these proposed changes through the formal rulemaking process, the DEC invites the public to provide feedback on the proposed changes.
On April 15, 2024, a new rule under Vermont’s Use of Public Waters Rules went into effect regulating wakeboats and wakesports on Vermont’s inland lakes. Wakeboats are motorboats that have ballast tanks that can be filled with water to create an enhanced wake for recreational purposes. The newly adopted rule limits wakesports with a wakeboat to wakesports zones only. There are currently 30 inland lakes eligible for wakesports zones. Since the Rule went into place, lake associations and municipalities that represent lakes eligible for wakesports have submitted petitions to request additional prohibitions to wakesports on individual lakes.
Rather than addressing concerns on a lake-by-lake basis, the DEC is taking a statewide, uniform approach to address concerns outlined in the petitions and to manage conflict between different recreational uses. This approach provides a more consistent and equitable decision process to regulate recreational uses in public waters of the State.
The purpose of pre-rulemaking is to solicit public input on amendments to the Use of Public Waters Rules. The DEC has gained valuable information from the petitions to prohibit wakesports on individual lakes and from the public comments in regard to those petitions. Many of the concerns that were brought forth through the petition review will be addressed in this round of rulemaking.
In an effort to get productive and meaningful feedback, the DEC is hosting a webinar and two hybrid public meetings as part of a pre-rulemaking engagement process.
- The webinar is to introduce and explain the rulemaking process, proposed changes to the Use of Public Waters Rules (derived from the petition review process and public comments), and to identify specific areas for public input. Many of the changes we are contemplating have come from your thoughtful input.
- The webinar will be held on July 1st at 6pm. A recorded version will be available on the website: https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/lakes-and-ponds-rulemaking.
Link to join the webinar: Join the meeting now
Our goal is to provide information in the webinar prior to holding public meetings, to help frame the context for public comments and to highlight specific topics within the Use of Public Waters Rules. The DEC is soliciting comments on specific topics, but all comments are welcome and will be considered equally.
The two public meetings will offer in-person and virtual options and provide opportunity for the public to provide comment on the development of proposed changes.
The first meeting will be held on July 30, 2025 at 6pm at VTrans Dill Building, 2178 Airport Road, Barre, VT 05641
The second meeting will be held on July 31, 2025 at 6pm at the Gateway Center, 84 Fyfe Drive, Newport, VT 05855.
Link to join the July 30th meeting remotely: Join the meeting now
Link to Join the July 31st meeting remotely: Join the meeting now
Written comments may be submitted during the public comment period to anr.wsmdlakes@vermont.gov. Public comments will be accepted from June 30th until 4:30 p.m. on August 11, 2025.
When submitting a public comment, please include the word “wakesports” in the subject line.
