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The Vermont Statutes Online
Title
10
:
Conservation and Development
Chapter
049A
:
LAKE SHORELAND PROTECTION STANDARDS
§
1447. Lake shoreland vegetation protection standards
(a) Within 100
feet of the mean water level, cutting of trees is allowed provided that a
well-distributed stand of trees and other natural vegetation is maintained.
Vegetation management that occurs within the protected shoreland area and that
is conducted according to the requirements of this section shall not be counted
toward the cleared area on a parcel.
(b) A
""well-distributed stand of trees'' shall be defined as maintaining a
minimum rating score of 12, in each 25-foot by 25-foot area within 100 feet of
the mean water level, as determined by the following rating system.
(1) Diameter of
tree at 4-1/2 feet above Points ground level (inches)
2-<
4 in. 1
4-<
8 in. 2
8-<
12 in. 4
12
in. or greater 8
(2) The
following shall govern in applying this point system:
(A) 25-foot by
25-foot plots shall be established for vegetation management purposes.
(B) Each
successive plot must be adjacent to but not overlap a previous plot.
(C) Any plot not
containing the required points must have no vegetative cover removed unless the
removal is allowed pursuant to a registration or individual permit.
(D) Any plot
containing the required points may have trees removed down to the minimum
points allowed.
(E) Existing
vegetative cover under three feet in height and other ground cover, including
leaf litter and the forest duff layer, shall not be cut, covered, or removed,
except to provide for a footpath or as allowed pursuant to a registration or
individual permit.
(F) Pruning of
tree branches on the bottom one-third of a tree's height is allowed.
(G) Removal of
dead, diseased, or unsafe trees shall be allowed regardless of points.
(c) As used in
this section, "other natural vegetation" means retaining existing
vegetation under three feet in height and other ground cover and retaining at
least five saplings less than two inches in diameter at four and one-half feet
above ground level for each 25-foot by 25-foot area. If five saplings do not
exist, no woody stems less than two inches in diameter can be removed until
five saplings have been planted or rooted in the plot. (Added 2013, No. 172
(Adj. Sess.), § 2.)