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§1447. Lake shoreland vegetation protection standards


Published: 2015

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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.)