| Vermont
Legislators Consider Fees for Non-motorized Vessels According The Associated Press
Representative Robert Helm,
Republican—Castleton, (Chairman of the Vermont House Fish and Wildlife Committee) and
Representative Michael C. Vinton, Democrat—Colchester, are considering legislation
that would have owners of canoes and other non-motorized watercraft pay a fee to use their
crafts on Vermont waters.
Both legislators agree that users of non-motorized boats benefit
from the state's management of the waters and place a burden on those waters. However,
they disagree on how to make these users pay.
Rep. Helm wants the state to require $10 permits for canoes, kayaks
and paddle boats and plans on introducing legislation for a $10 conservation sticker. Helm
believes that this group of users is not paying for the privilege to use the resources and
they need to pay their share. Revenues could be used to improve access to the rivers, as
well as enforcement where water uses clash. One of Helm's concerns is the need to regulate
those businesses renting canoes and sending them down the river all at once.
Rep. Vinton wants to require owners of all non-motorized boats to
register their craft at a cost of $15 a year. He believes that non-motorized vessels
should be registered because they use the access areas as much as power boats.
Registrations of non-motorized vessels could bring an additional
50-60,000 registrations, releasing federal matching funds.
Burlington paddlers advocate, Kevin Rose, was not surprised
and has seen similar efforts on the national level. He has seen conflict at Lake Champlain
ramps between fishermen and non motorized vessel operators. In the past VT Fish and
Wildlife, who maintained access, posted signs either allowing or prioritizing only fishing
activities. This policy is now longer in effect.
Although Rose understands the need for non motorized
vessels to share the cost of access, he is concerned about organizations that provide
paddling rentals or tours. Depending on the cost of the registration it could have a
serious impact on these organizations. Rose hopes that if a fee is adopted that the money
goes to increase and improve access.
In particular Rose is concerned about a movement in
Burlington to exclude non motorized vessesls from Burlington Harbor. |
