Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announces revised wakesports rules under Vermont’s Use of Public Waters Rules that went into effect on June 11, 2026. The rules change where wakesports can occur and the decontamination (cleaning) requirements for all ballasted vessels, including wakeboats.
Those who wish to engage in wakesports should know the following before heading out to a lake this summer:
- Wakesports may occur within designated wakesports zones on Vermont’s inland lakes, as listed on DEC’s wakesports webpage.
- Wakesports may also occur on Vermont’s cross-boundary lakes, including Lake Champlain, Lake Memphremagog, the Connecticut River reservoirs, and Wallace Pond.
- Any ballasted vessel, including wake boats, that travels between different water bodies requires a hot water decontamination.
- Wakesports users must maintain a 500-foot safety offset from other recreational users, such as swimmers and boaters.
- Wakesports users must maintain a 500-foot offset from any signed loon nesting sites during loon nesting season (May 1 through July 31).
- A wakeboat may operate without filling the ballast tank(s), not creating an enhanced wake, on any lake or pond where traditional motorboats are allowed, provided decontamination requirements are followed.
“Our department has run a highly collaborative and transparent process to develop and adopt these changes to the Use of Public Waters Rules,” said DEC Commissioner Misty Sinsigalli. “We carefully considered over 1,500 public comments from lake associations, environmental organizations, the boating industry, and groups representing paddlers, anglers, water skiers, and wildlife enthusiasts. This multi-year public engagement process made it possible for us to develop a fair, balanced rule to resolve conflict between various uses on public waters.”
Wakeboats are a type of motorboat that have one or more ballast tanks, ballast bags, or other devices or design features used to increase the size of the motorboat’s wake. The creation of an enhanced wake from a wakeboat is referred to as “wakesports.” Vermont regulates wakesports to protect water quality and the safety of other users, as well as to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species.
Learn more about the updated wakesports rules online, including important information about watercraft decontamination.
The Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for protecting Vermont's natural resources and safeguarding human health for the benefit of this and future generations. Visit dec.vermont.gov and follow the Department of Environmental Conservation on Facebook and Instagram.
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Website.
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