Optimal Capacity of Malletts Bay to Accommodate Boating Activity Molly Condron, Alex Frayer, Dylan Funnell, Angela Karas Introduction: Boating is a popular hobby in Malletts Bay. The number of docks and moorings has increased significantly in the past few years. Currently, the Town of Colchester does not have authority to regulate the docks and moorings in the bay. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issues dock permits. However, no permits are needed to install a mooring. Goal: assist the Town of Colchester in assessing the optimal capacity of Malletts Bay to accommodate docks and moorings, and recommend policies to achieve this capacity. Findings: Carrying Capacity: Environmental Impacts: The State of Washington has taken measures to improve ecosystem health and suggests reducing the number of private docks, and to remove the lines and buoys of moorings in the off-season Boating activities decrease air and water quality (Water Quality Results) Regulations: In 2000 the City of Newport, Vermont petitioned the Agency of Natural Resources to delegate the authority to regulate mooring placement in its public waters. After public hearings and reviews of the draft ordinance by both the Vermont Water Resources Board and the Agency of Natural Resources, the petition was granted. Conclusions/Recommendations: Carrying Capacity: Carrying Capacity of 350 boats Existing boaters can maintain their current docks and moorings Allows for growth of recreation Threshold for compromising the ecosystem Environmental: All docks remain intact along the lakeshore Stabilize shoreline – preventing erosion Seasonal Moorings Buoy and line be put it place at beginning of summer season and removed at the end of the summer season Reduced sediment movement at lake bed Regulations: Use the framework that the City of Newport created in 2000 1989 Capacity Study 2013 Aerial Photos 2015 Aerial Photos Recommended # of boats (1989 Study) 105 boats Actual # of boats 1,074 boats 267 boats 313 boats # of boats: actual vs. recommended +969 boats +162 boats +208 boats Table comparing recommended carrying capacity from the 1989 capacity study to number of boats present in 1989, 2013, and 2015 Aerial image showing boats in 2015 Aerial image showing boats in 2013 Approach: Research/Literature Review Focus: ecological impacts, effective regulations, land use impacts, social dimensions, water quality, aesthetics, boating safety, public opinion Consultants William Valliere; RSENR Dawn Francis; Town of Colchester Historical Image Analysis Use of historical images of the bay to assess increase in moorings Aerial imagery used to create maps to visualize dock growth GIS comparison of docks area coverage in 2004 and 2013 Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Dawn Francis for presenting us with this project and mentoring us through the process. Thank you to our professor, Breck Bowden for providing us with this partnership. In addition we would like to thank William Valliere and Andrew Cappello for providing us guidance in finding relevant information.