Winter has settled in hard across the Kingdom. The ice has claimed the coves, the camps sit quiet under fresh snow, and the wind moves across the lake with that deep midwinter sound that only February brings. The shoreline is still, but the work of stewardship never really stops. If anything, winter sharpens it.
While the lakes rest beneath the ice, your Association does not. In meeting rooms, over Zoom calls, in public hearings, and in steady correspondence with state partners, the work continues. We plan, we advocate, we strengthen protections, and we prepare for the season ahead. Cold weather may slow boat traffic, but it does not slow the responsibilities that come with caring for two clean, remote, and deeply loved lakes.
Winter is when we take stock. Not in stillness, but in preparation. There is real progress to report, and there are important issues on the horizon.
Gold Lake Wise Award Now on Both Lakes
I am pleased to share that Great Averill has now achieved Gold Lake Wise status, joining Little Averill. To qualify for Gold, at least 15 percent of shoreline properties must receive Lake Wise awards for implementing best practices that reduce erosion, limit nutrient runoff, stabilize banks, and strengthen natural buffers. With 90 shoreline properties on Great Averill, that meant achieving 14 Lake Wise awards. We were just notified that we have reached that threshold.
To our knowledge, the Averill Lakes Association is the only lake association in Vermont managing two lakes that both hold Gold Lake Wise designation. That distinction is not about recognition. It reflects committed and measurable property level stewardship across two separate shorelines. Managing two lakes doubles our exposure and doubles our responsibility. The fact that both lakes now meet the Gold standard speaks to the seriousness with which our members approach shoreline health. Thank you to every property owner who participated. Prevention begins at the shoreline, and it works best when it is voluntary, informed, and sustained. Congratulations to us all!
Watershed Action Plan Final Meeting
On Monday, March 23 at 5:00 PM, the Memphremagog Watershed Association will host the final public meeting for the Averill Lakes Watershed Action Plan. At this meeting, the project team will present the 30 percent restoration designs that have been developed, walk through the draft Final Report, and outline next steps for projects that are ready to move forward. This includes priority sites where stormwater management, erosion control, or other mitigation strategies can reduce long term nutrient loading into the lakes.
The LWAP represents years of collaboration and is supported by $75,000 in state funding. It is not simply a report. It is a roadmap for the next decade of watershed protection and resilience, especially as we see more frequent and intense rainfall events across the region.
The draft of the final report will be circulated in advance of the meeting so that members can review it and come prepared with questions or comments. Once the Zoom link is available, we will email it to the full membership for those who would like to attend. I encourage participation. Planning is important, but implementation is where protection becomes real.
Wake Boat Rule Changes and ALA Engagement
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation has proposed revisions to the wake boat rule. Under the new framework, wake sporting will be banned on all inland lakes in Vermont except 18. Eleven of those lakes are in the Northeast Kingdom, and both Great and Little Averill remain on that list.
The proposed changes include increased safety buffers from 200 feet to 500 feet from shorelines, structures, other users, and loon habitat. Those buffer expansions address safety and user conflict concerns that were not fully resolved in the earlier rule.
At the same time, two significant provisions are being removed. The Home Lake Rule would have required wake boat owners to declare one lake for the season, minimizing movement between lakes and decreasing the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species through ballast tanks.
The proof of decontamination requirement is also being removed. There are currently four functioning decontamination stations statewide, three of which are on Lake Champlain. None are in the Northeast Kingdom. Under the previous rule, a boat operating on our lakes would have been required to travel roughly three hours for decontamination. The infrastructure gap is real.
The Averills are clean, AIS free, and remote. We are also close to the Canadian border and New Hampshire, and we now sit on a shrinking list of allowable wake lakes. Last season, zebra mussels were confirmed in Lake Memphremagog. Once introduced, aquatic invasive species are extraordinarily difficult and expensive to manage. The economic, ecological, and recreational consequences are long lasting and will be borne by our local communities.
The Averill Lakes Association has been at the forefront of this discussion. Susan Gresser and I attended a private meeting with DEC leadership to discuss the proposed changes and the lack of decontamination infrastructure in the NEK. Written testimony was submitted by Susan, Gennette, Connie, and myself. Susan also spoke at the public hearing in Barre on February 4 and proposed a temporary moratorium on wake boats coming from away until DEC puts the necessary infrastructure in place to clean boat ballasts.
Our position has been consistent. We recognize that DEC operates within funding and staffing constraints. This is not about opposition for its own sake. It is about aligning exposure with infrastructure. Layered protection works. Shoreline stewardship, greeter inspections, reasonable operational limits, and decontamination together reduce risk. Removing layers before replacements are operational increases exposure during the transition.
We will continue to engage constructively, grounded in science, prevention, and the long term protection of the Averill Lakes.
Little Averill Access Clarification
We have also received clarification from DEC regarding the Little Averill access area. The boat launch is privately owned, and the private owners prohibit wake boats from launching at that site. Little Averill still contains a state designated wake sports zone that could theoretically be accessed from another location. DEC has indicated it will add language to its webpage clarifying that the ramp is privately owned and subject to owner restrictions.
Strengthening Our Greeter Program
Given the continued risk of aquatic invasive species and the proposed rule changes, we will be hiring an additional part time greeter for the Little Averill access area. Greeters are our first line of defense. In a region without decontamination stations, inspection, education, and direct engagement at the point of entry are critical. This is member funded protection in action. If you are interested, or know someone who may be a good fit, please contact Susan Gresser at susie1222@charter.net.
Two Lakes, Ongoing Responsibility
As we move through the coldest stretch of winter, it is worth reflecting on what has been accomplished and what lies ahead. We have achieved Gold Lake Wise status on both lakes. We are completing a watershed action plan that positions us for the next decade. We have been actively engaged in state policy discussions that directly affect our lakes. We are strengthening our prevention efforts at the local level.
Managing two lakes is unique in Vermont. It requires vigilance, coordination, and steady leadership. The work does not pause when the docks come out or when the snow piles up.
The ice will eventually recede. The loons will return. Boats will launch again. Our responsibility is to ensure that when they do, these lakes remain clean, resilient, and worthy of the care we continue to invest in them, even in the depths of winter.
With appreciation for your continued engagement and support,
Bernie Gracy President, Averill Lakes Association
