Closing camp: State urges Vermonters to remove docks, skip bubblers

October 3, 2025   |  By Waterbury Roundabout

As Vermonters prepare to close up their lakeside summer camps, the state Department of Environmental Conservation urges residents to either remove their docks from the water or, if ice damage is not a concern, to let them freeze in place. 

An aerator (bubbler) installed between a two-dock system. Vt. Department of Environmental Conservation photo

State officials also recommend skipping the use of aeration devices designed to prevent ice buildup around docks in winter in order to help protect Vermont lakes and public safety. 

Bubblers and other aerators attach to docks and circulate air in the water. They are intended to reduce ice, aquatic plants, or sediment. Property owners who plan to install an aeration device like a bubbler, ice eater, or de-icer near a dock need to apply for a Lake Encroachment Permit.  

Environmental Conservation Commissioner Misty Sinsigalli noted that aerators form pools of open water during the winter and can make it unsafe for activities such as ice skating and ice fishing. 

A dock with an aerator (bubbler) installed. Vt. Department of Environmental Conservation photo

“Adding an aerator into a public lake or pond can impact the lake's environmental health,” added Laura Dlugolecki, DEC Lakes and Ponds Policy and Outreach Coordinator. “Ice cover is key because it offers winter habitat and plays a critical part in the natural life cycles of fish and wildlife.”

DEC staff consider all proposed activities in Vermont’s waters and assess any impacts to habitat, water quality, recreation, and other uses. They say that permitted projects must minimize public impacts. More information is online about the Lake Encroachment Permit process. Questions can be directed to the state’s regional Lake and Shoreland Permit Analysts.