1. 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.