Montpelier, Vt. – With the fall ahead, shoreland residents are getting ready to close their lakeside camps for the season. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is urging residents to either remove their docks from the water or, if ice damage is not a concern, to let them freeze in place. DEC also recommends forgoing aeration devices that are designed to prevent ice buildup around your dock to help protect Vermont lakes and public safety.

If you are planning to install an aeration device like a bubbler, ice eater, or de-icer near your dock, you will need to apply for a Lake Encroachment Permit. Bubblers and other aerators attach to docks or are placed on the lakebed and circulate air in the water. In the winter, these devices are intended to reduce ice formation, but some install these devices during the summer months with the intent to manage aquatic plants or sediment. Regardless of the purpose or time of year that these devices are used, they must be approved under Lake Encroachment permitting.

“Our public waters offer Vermonters many benefits from water quality and habitat to recreation and drinking water,” said DEC Commissioner Misty Sinsigalli. “When aerators form pools of open water during the winter, they can make it unsafe for recreationists like ice skaters and ice fishers.”

“Adding an aerator into a public lake or pond can impact the lake’s environmental health,” said Laura Dlugolecki, DEC Lakes and Ponds Policy and Outreach Coordinator. “Ice cover is key because it offers winter habitat and plays a critical part in the natural life cycles of fish and wildlife.”

DEC staff carefully consider all proposed activities in Vermont’s waters and assess any impacts to habitat, water quality, recreation, and other uses. Permitted projects must minimize impacts on the public good and the public trust.

Learn more about and apply for a Lake Encroachment Permit. If you have questions, contact your regional Lake and Shoreland Permit Analyst.

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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.

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Stephanie Brackin (she/her)  |  Communications Director

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

1 National Life Drive, Davis 2, Montpelier, VT 05620-3901

802-261-0606 | stephanie.brackin@vermont.gov

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