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VT Department of Fish & Wildlife Declines to Support
Joe’s Pond Association Proposed Boat Wash & Watercraft Decontamination Station |
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The Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife (DF&W) has refused to allow the Joe’s Pond Association (JPA) to construct and operate a boat wash and watercraft decontamination station (BWS) at the Joe’s Pond DF&W access area.
Over the past year, and as a result of an infestation of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM), the JPA has been confronted with the tremendous social, financial and ecological costs associated with containment and control of this aggressive, resilient, and dominant non-native aquatic invasive species (AIS).
A fully equipped and staffed BWS is considered by the JPA to be a necessary and effective facility enhancing its ability to prevent introduction of additional aquatic invasive species (AIS) and, seemingly what should be most important to the DF&W, would help avoid export of EWM and other AIS to other currently AIS-free Vermont waterbodies.
The JPA intends to secure 100% funding for construction, operation and maintenance of this proposed facility from private sources.
After engaging a consultant to conduct a wetlands delineation and development of a preliminary project design, the JPA submitted a proposal to the DF&W asking for its endorsement.
Citing the loss of parking spaces (2) and the encroachment into adjacent wetlands (3000 square feet in a wetland buffer area), Mike Wichrowski, Lands & Facilities Administrator for the DF&W stated in an email message to the JPA that its proposal “is not something the ANR (VT Agency of Natural Resources) is willing to support”.
The JPA has argued that this decision by VT DF&W and the Department of Environmental Conservation (wetlands regulatory authority) has demonstrated misplaced priorities and rejects an opportunity to meaningfully and effectively collaborate with the local entity (JPA) most responsible for protection and stewardship of Joe’s Pond. That concern for two parking spaces (for which a mitigation proposal has been offered by the JPA) and a minor wetland buffer encroachment would outweigh the potential degradation of all Joe’s Pond-associated wetlands and aquatic resources due to AIS introduction seems, in the opinion of the JPA, to be ill-conceived.
At this time, the JPA is considering its options for next steps.
Barry Cahoon, JPA Water Quality Director
Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Coordinator
11/06/2025
