On Thursday, May 21, the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules approved the revised Use of Public Waters Rules. These rules are in effect beginning June 11, 2026.
Among the changes affecting wake sports in the state is the size of the wake sports zone. That change will remove12 inland lakes from the list of those allowing wake sports. The list of inland lakes allowing wake sports and maps of their wake sports zones is here.
The additional changes to Section 3 of the rules that impact wakeboats and wakesports are:
- Decontamination requirements for all ballasted boats entering Vermont’s waterways
- When moving between different bodies of water, ballasted vessels, including wakeboats, must be decontaminated in accordance with Agency guidance.
- The lakes and the locations on those lakes where wakesports may occur
- In inland lakes (lakes entirely within the border of Vermont) Wakesportsusing a wakeboatshall only occur within defined wakesport zones.
- A safety offset of 500 feet required for wakesports operators from other recreational users
- The safety offset applies to inland and cross-boundary lakes (like Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog)
- The 500-foot safety offset only applies when the wakeboat is creating an enhanced wake. If a wakeboat is operating without a filled ballast, the default 200-foot safety offset applies.
- A distance offset of 500 feet required for wakesports from signed loon nesting sites during nesting season
Wakesports are not restricted to specific locations on Lake Champlain, Lake Memphremagog, the Connecticut River reservoirs, and Wallace Pond. However, it is best practice for those engaging in wakesports on cross-boundary waterways to do so in areas of the lake that are at least 500 feet from shore and at least 20 feet deep.
Wakesports zones are open to all uses permitted on the subject waterbody and are not exclusive to wakesports.
A wakeboat must be decontaminated in accordance with Agency guidance when moving between different bodies of water.
Under The Use of Public Waters Rules, Section 3.7, the following requirements are in place regarding wakeboat decontamination:
3.7 (d): All provisions of 10 V.S.A. § 1454 regarding aquatic nuisance species inspection and decontamination apply to ballasted vessels, including wakeboats, and ballasted vessel users shall drain the ballast tanks of their boats to the fullest extent practicable after leaving waters of the state. This subsection 3.7.d. applies to Lake Champlain, Lake Memphremagog, Wallace Pond, the Connecticut River Reservoirs, and the waterbodies with a defined wakesports zone.
3.7 (e): Before entering a waterbody, if a ballasted vessel was last launched at a different waterbody within the calendar year, the ballasted vessel’s interior components including engines, ballast systems, pumps, bilge areas, and water containment device(s), shall be drained and flushed using low-pressure hot water in accordance with Agency requirements, and exterior components must be adequately rinsed with high-pressure hot water in accordance with Agency requirements to remove particulates.
To comply with Agency decontamination requirements, users will have the ability to self-certify that the wakeboat was decontaminated in accordance with these procedures:
The wakeboat interior components including engines, ballast systems, pumps, bilge areas, and water containment device(s), shall be drained and flushed using low-pressure hot water (120oF) for 3 to 5 minutes, and exterior components must be adequately rinsed with high-pressure hot water (140oF) to remove particulates.
In addition to wakeboat specific decontamination requirements, all wakeboats must follow the aquatic nuisance species spread prevention laws (10 V.S.A. § 1454). Wakeboat users shall drain the ballast tanks of their boats to the fullest extent practicable after leaving a body of water.
These new rules are in effect as of June 11. 2026
Further information can be found on the DEC’s Wakeboating and Wakesports website.
If you have questions, you can contact:
Laura Dlugolecki | Lakes and Ponds Policy and Outreach Coordinator
Email: Laura.dlugolecki@vermont.gov
