State environmental regulators denied a petition to prohibit motorized boats on Wolcott Pond on Wednesday, upholding limited recreational access to the 74-acre pond in Lamoille County.
Friends of Wolcott Pond filed a petition asking that the state prohibit the use of boats with internal combustion engines. The petitioners claim the pond’s 5 mph motor limit is sometimes violated, causing pollution and a safety hazard for swimmers. The town selectboard supported the petition.
“Wolcott Pond is an accessible, natural pond with some nice wetland edges that provides important recreational opportunities for fishing and wildlife watching. We are pleased that the pond will continue to be available to all boaters who respect and obey the 5 mph speed limit on all areas of the pond,” said Susan Warren, DEC’s lakes and ponds program manager, in a statement.
The citizens’ group filed its petition in February 2013. They asked the state to designate the pond a “quiet pond,” stating four of the five seasonal camps on the pond don’t have running water or electricity. They also said the pond is “unusual for its wilderness nature,” and pointed to “regular wildlife sightings” of loons, ducks, deer and an occasional moose.
The department said prohibiting internal combustion engines would eliminate noise, but it is not the least restrictive way to accomplish the petitioners’ goals. Instead, it found enforcement of the pond’s speed limit to be the preferred way to protect the quiet nature of the pond.
The department is unaware of any water quality issues or impairments associated with the use of motors. It said it has not received any reports of recreational pond users being harmed by motor boats.
Environmental Conservation Commissioner David Mears said in the ruling that DEC is reluctant to prohibit normal use of motorized boats, “unless such a prohibition is necessary.” He said there is “no evidence that the conflicting uses arises to the level where a prohibition is necessary. DEC must use the least restrictive method to resolve the conflicts between users.”
The department said it will work with the group to enhance the visibility of the Use of Public Waters Rules at the access area and enhance communication with the enforcement programs, according to a news release.
The department in August denied another citizens’ group petition to restrict all uses of Berlin Pond, the drinking water supply for Montpelier and parts of Berlin, but it did ban motorized boats, recreational vehicles and other gas-powered equipment on the pond.
