Vermont § 4145 - Access, landing area rules

§ 4145. Access, landing area rules

• (a) The Board may adopt rules, under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, to regulate the use by the public of access areas, landing areas, parking areas,
  or of other lands or waters acquired or maintained pursuant to section 4144 of this title. Such rules shall be posted in the areas affected and shall permit the launching
  of all vessels that have a Vermont registration certificate required by 23 V.S.A. chapter 29 and the parking of vehicles and boat trailers used by these vessels. The rules shall
  not preclude the authorization to launch vessels not registered in Vermont. These
  rules also shall permit the launching of all nonmotorized vessels not used for commercial
  purposes and the parking of vehicles and boat trailers used by these vessels. (b) The Commissioner may enter into agreements with owners of land, which shall not involve
  payment to the landowner, in order to allow public access for launching of nonmotorized
  vessels in public waters. The Commissioner may agree to upgrade the land area in a
  minor way; for example, the Commissioner may agree to build a footpath to the water,
  build and maintain a small parking area, or perform minor grading to improve boat
  access. The Commissioner may not agree to major upgrading, such as building a launching
  ramp or paving a parking area. A landowner who enters into an agreement under this
  subsection shall be afforded the landowner liability protections of 12 V.S.A. § 5793. The Commissioner shall post signs in these areas, inviting private contributions
  to the Fish and Wildlife Fund for the purpose of building and maintaining nonmotorized
  vessel access areas, and shall issue to any person contributing, a sticker that may
  be placed on a vessel and that identifies the person as a contributor to the nonmotorized
  vessel access area program. (c) The Commissioner shall keep account of funds, including private donations and State
  appropriations, that are deposited into the Fish and Wildlife Fund for the purpose
  of building and maintaining access areas and shall annually, on or before January
  15, report to the House Committee on Environment, the Senate Committee on Natural
  Resources and Energy, and the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, concerning
  the use of those funds in the past year and plans for use of the funds for the coming
  year. The provisions of 2 V.S.A. § 20(d) (expiration of required reports) shall not apply to the report to be made under this
  subsection. (d) The Board shall allow the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation to post aquatic
  nuisance signs pursuant to subdivision 1453(b)(6) of this title. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1; amended 1991, No. 230 (Adj. Sess.), § 14; 1993, No. 52, § 5; 1999, No. 76 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2003, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 69, eff. June 8, 2004; 2013, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.), § 22.)