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DEC presents hydro‑raking permit and voluntary boat‑wash plan for Newport docks
Summary
A Vermont DEC permit analyst told the Newport City Council the agency circulated draft permits to allow a one‑time hydro‑rake operation and up to 10 years of bottom‑barrier authority at the city docks; staff also proposed a voluntary greeter and boat‑washing certificate program to reduce invasive aquatic plants.
Misha Setner, a permit analyst with the Vermont DEC Lakes and Ponds Program, told the City Council on Feb. 6 that the DEC issued two draft permits for work at the city docks: one authorizing a single hydro‑raking operation and another allowing bottom‑barrier installation, each valid for 10 years.
Setner said hydro‑raking is a mechanically invasive means of removing rooted aquatic plants using a paddle‑wheel craft with an 8–10‑foot arm and an 8‑foot rake. She told council members the draft hydro‑raking decision includes a requirement for a sediment curtain to contain turbidity and fragmentation during operations. ‘‘Each permit is effective for 10 years,’’ Setner said, adding that ‘‘hydro raking can only be done once’’ during the permit term.
Council members and staff discussed alternatives and staging. Andy (parks staff) and others said the city plans to start with less invasive measures at public beaches—hand‑pulling and shore removal—and reserve hydro‑raking and bottom barriers for marina areas or problem spots that persist. Andy said the city has budgeted funds and that a contractor quote for hydro‑raking appears in the meeting packet (roughly $10,000, as discussed in meeting materials), and that the bottom‑barrier permit would let the city place barriers without reapplying for a decade if needed.
Setner and staff noted fisheries timing constraints. A fisheries biologist commented in the meeting that hydro‑raking should not occur before June 30 to protect spawning; Setner said she will coordinate scheduling with fisheries staff. Council members raised concerns about public use and boat traffic; Setner said the DEC must weigh public trust uses (boating, fishing, swimming) against potential fisheries impacts.
The presentation also covered a voluntary greeter and washing‑certificate program to prevent spread of invasive species. Andy said the greeter would inspect and wash boats, trailers and issue user certificates; the state has portable decontamination units and may station a trailer at the dock. The program would be voluntary locally but could be accepted on the Canadian side where sticker enforcement is already a law, Setner said. Council members discussed funding, potential user donations or nominal fees, and the need for regional coordination with lake associations and the Memphremagog MRC.
Council direction: staff and DEC will continue scheduling coordination with fisheries biologists; the city will proceed with initial, less invasive actions (hand‑pulling and greeter/washing efforts) and use hydro‑raking selectively if other measures fail. No formal vote was taken on permits during the meeting.
The city manager and parks staff were asked to follow up with cost details, contractor availability and a proposed timeline; Setner said the DEC had issued the draft decisions that day and would work with the city on timing to reduce risks to fish and public use.
