100ft.

150ft.




SHORELAND
PROTECTION AREA
250feet backfromthemeanwater
line. This is theareaalonglakes and
ponds greater than10acres towhich
thenewlawapplies.
VEGETATIVE COVER
Trees, shrubs, groundcover andduff,
whichis leaf litter andother plant
fragments. Lawns arenot considered
tobevegetativecover.
IMPERVIOUS
SURFACES
Manmadesurfaces suchas paved
andunpavedroads, driveways,
walkways parkingareas; roofs on
houses or other structures, decks,
patios andlargeretainingwalls.
P R O T E C T I O N F O R P R E C I O U S L A K E S
UPLAND ZONE
150feet backfromtheLake-
sidezone. This is thepreferred
areafor development along
lakeshores.

LAKESIDE ZONE
100feet backfromthemean
water line. This is thearea
wherethenewlawrestricts
clear andcreationof impervi-
ous surfaces.
CANOPY
Trees leafy crowns createshadedhabitat con-
sideredessential tohealthy lakes. Lakesideprop-
erty owners must maintaintreecanopies, with
any pruningtakingplaceunderneath.
LIMB TRIMMING
Pruningof branches is allowed, but only onthe
lower thirdof any tree.
SLOPE
Permits for newclearingor constructionwill
beallowedonly whentheslopeat theproject
siteis 20percent or less. Exceptions may be
madewhenlandowners usestabilizationbest
practices suchas expandingthelakesidezone
or creatingno-mowzones. MishaCetner and
DanHomeier demonstratehowtocalculatethe
slopeof abuildingplot at asiteonCurtis Pond.
DUFF
Thelawcalls for maintainingleaf litter and
other plant fragments tocreateaspongy layer
that absorbs rainandrunoff, allowingwater
toinltratesoil rather thanstreamintoalake
or pond.
WALKWAY
Footpaths upto6feet wideareallowedtopro-
videaccess toalakeor pond. Thesurfacemay be
pervious or impervious suchas stairs, landings or
platforms.
MEAN WATER
Somelakes suchas LakeChamplainandLake
Memphremagoghaveestablishedsummer
water levels that aredeemedtobemeanwa-
ter level. Onmost lakes, property owners will
needtodeterminethesummer meanwater
level by makingobservations about plant
growthalongtheshoreline. MishaCetner and
DanHomeier, shorelandpermit specialists,
measure25feet fromthemeanwater level on
Curtis PondinCalais.