Lake Bomoseen Association

04/08/2026

The Castleton Parks and Recreation Department is again sponsoring a summer sailing program for area youth.

Two one-week camps will be held at Crystal Beach during the weeks of July 13 -17 and July 20 -24. Camp will be held from noon to 3:00 pm each weekday. The camp is open to children entering grades 5 through 8 next fall. The fee for each week is $100. Each week is limited to 14 campers; and space is starting to fill up.

If you're interested, don't wait. Register now through the Town's web site (www.castletonvermont.org) by clicking through "Online Services", then "Continue Here", then "Parks & Recreation" VIEW ALL.

02/25/2026

🚨 Quick Alert – Lake Bomoseen 🚨

Neighbors in the Lake Bomoseen community: please be aware of recent vandalism incidents.

• Two homes on Rustics Road were vandalized Feb 10 (late night)
• UPDATE: Five additional lake homes were vandalized Saturday, Feb 21st.

• A suspect was taken into custody that afternoon, charged with a felony, and is receiving mental health treatment.

There may be additional homes with unreported damage due to people being gone for the winter.

👉 Please review camera footage, secure your property, and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Thank you for staying vigilant and looking out for one another.

02/23/2026

Ice fishing at dusk.

02/17/2026

*Some context for our recent LBA Facebook posts*

A recent newsletter published by the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), a private non-governmental organization, contained numerous inaccuracies regarding the Lake Bomoseen Association (LBA) and its role in the permitting process for ProcellaCOR. We believe it is important to correct the record.

In 2021, the LBA applied for a permit to use an herbicide to manage Eurasian milfoil, an invasive species that has been present in Lake Bomoseen since 1982. The permit was denied in 2024. In that decision, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) outlined specific elements of the application that would need to be amended but would not let us amend the submitted application; instead, they encouraged the LBA to reapply after addressing those items.

The LBA did not appeal the decision and did not submit a revised application.

An individual, Lindsey Waterhouse, filed an appeal with the Vermont Environmental Court and later the Vermont Supreme Court. He was not considered a legal appellant, and the case was dismissed without consideration of the merits. That dismissal was issued on November 7, 2025.

The DEC and ANR recognize ProcellaCOR as an accepted, scientifically vetted method of milfoil control, with its use subject to extensive research and strict regulatory oversight.

The recent VNRC newsletter included known inaccuracies regarding the permit process, the authorship of the appeal, and the positions of state agencies. These errors were subsequently repeated by local media outlets, prompting both the LBA and Mr. Waterhouse to contact VNRC to request a correction and retraction.

We believe clarification is particularly important because, within days of the publication of these inaccurate reports, the homes of LBA board members were vandalized. While we cannot definitively link the vandalism to the reporting, the timing is concerning and cannot be ignored.

We recognize that the topic of ProcellaCOR is controversial. However, facts matter. The portrayal of the Lake Bomoseen Association as an organization seeking to “poison the lake” is simply false. The initial application for ProcellaCOR was submitted at the urging of the DEC in response to well-documented increases in milfoil. ProcellaCOR has undergone extensive review, has been approved by regulators, and has been used successfully in 12 lakes throughout Vermont and hundreds across the country.

We live in a time when public discourse can quickly become polarized and emotionally charged. But Lake Bomoseen belongs to all of us. Productive conversation must be grounded in accurate information, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the lake’s long-term health.

The LBA is a volunteer board made up of individuals who care deeply about Lake Bomoseen and are committed to preserving its health and vitality for future generations. We welcome thoughtful dialogue, differing viewpoints, and continued community engagement — and we ask that discussions remain factual and civil. Our goal has always been, and remains, to protect and preserve Lake Bomoseen in a responsible, science-based manner.

02/16/2026

To the Editors and Leadership of the Vermont Natural Resources Council,

The Lake Bomoseen Association (LBA) is writing to formally request a prompt correction and apology regarding multiple factual errors contained in VNRC’s recent article, “An Update on our Work to Protect Lake Bomoseen.”

First, the article incorrectly states that the Lake Bomoseen Association appealed the Agency of Natural Resources’ 2024 denial of the herbicide permit application. This is false. The LBA was not the appellant. The appeal was filed by Lindsay Waterhouse, not by the Lake Bomoseen Association. VNRC is well aware of this fact, having been directly involved in the litigation. Attributing the appeal to the LBA is a material misrepresentation of the procedural history and unfairly characterizes the Association’s actions.

Second, the article inaccurately describes the permit application as seeking chemical treatment for “aquatic nuisances,” plural. The application was narrowly and specifically focused on the control of one highly destructive invasive species: Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM). Characterizing the application otherwise misleads readers about both the scope and intent of the request.

Third, the article states that the Lake Bomoseen Environmental Alliance (LBEA) “opposed the application” in 2022. This is also incorrect. The LBEA did not exist at that time and did not incorporate until September 2023. While individuals who later formed the LBEA were active earlier—primarily through the “Don’t Poison Lake Bomoseen” Facebook group, which later rebranded as “Keep Lake Bomoseen Herbicide Free”—it is inaccurate to attribute formal opposition in 2022 to an organization that had not yet been established.

These are not matters of interpretation or opinion; they are matters of fact. Publishing incorrect information—particularly when VNRC knows or should know it to be incorrect—undermines constructive dialogue and public trust.

Accordingly, the Lake Bomoseen Association requests that VNRC issue a clearly worded correction, distributed through the same channels as the original article, that:

Explicitly states that the LBA did not appeal ANR’s permit denial and was not the appellant;

Clarifies that the permit application sought treatment solely for Eurasian watermilfoil, not multiple “aquatic nuisances”; and

Corrects the record regarding the timing and role of the Lake Bomoseen Environmental Alliance.

Given the nature and number of these errors, we also believe an apology is warranted.

The LBA remains committed to science-based lake management and respectful engagement with all stakeholders. That commitment depends on accurate public representations of facts. We look forward to your prompt response and correction.

Sincerely,
Bridget McIntyre
President
Lake Bomoseen Association

02/16/2026

Deception for Political Gain

Vermont Natural Resources Council Misrepresents My Appeal

By Lindsey C. Waterhouse

I am writing to correct misinformation published by the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) regarding my appeal of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources’ denial of Permit Application No. 3642-ANC-C. That permit sought to control one aquatic invasive species: Eurasian water-milfoil—in Lake Bomoseen.

What This Case Was — and Was Not

My appeal, filed pro se (without an attorney), was brought by me alone. The Lake Bomoseen Association (LBA) and the Lake Bomoseen Preservation Trust (LBPT), which jointly developed and submitted the permit application, did not appeal. They supported my effort but were not appellants.

Most importantly, the courts did not rule on the science or merits of the case. The Environmental Court and Vermont Supreme Court dismissed my appeal solely on procedural grounds, finding that I lacked “standing.” In other words, the case was never heard on its substance.

The ruling was not about whether Eurasian watermilfoil is a serious invasive species. It was not about whether herbicide treatment is scientifically valid. It was not a rejection of Vermont DEC’s established invasive species control framework. It was a procedural decision about who is allowed to appeal.

Why I Appealed

I am a retired environmental engineer, a graduate of Norwich University, and a decorated U.S. Air Force Bio-Environmental Engineer. I later worked in environmental management for the State of Vermont and major medical institutions. I formerly served on the Board of the Lake Bomoseen Association and currently serve with the Lake Bomoseen Preservation Trust—both 501(c)(3) nonprofits dedicated solely to protecting the lake.

My appeal was based on what I believe was a procedural error in the permit denial process. Vermont’s own Surface Water Management Strategy identifies aquatic invasive species as a major stressor to state waters. Twelve Vermont lakes currently use approved methods, including selective herbicide treatment, to control Eurasian watermilfoil.

Lake Bomoseen was denied the opportunity to modify or correct its application—an opportunity afforded in other cases.

Political Gain vs. Integrity

VNRC’s public posting suggests that the Vermont Supreme Court “upheld denial of chemical treatment.” That framing is misleading.

The Court did not evaluate chemical treatment. It did not weigh scientific evidence. It did not rule that herbicide treatment is unsafe. It ruled only that I, as an individual, did not have standing to bring the appeal.

VNRC also references a Lake Bomoseen environmental group that did not exist during the permit application and public comment period. That implication is factually incorrect.

A Larger Concern

Vermont statute (10 V.S.A. § 8504) allows individuals who participate in the public comment process to appeal environmental permit decisions. I did so in writing during the official review period. Yet the court determined that my interest was not sufficiently “unique” to grant standing.

If this interpretation stands, it significantly narrows meaningful public participation in Vermont’s environmental permitting process. Under this logic, only applicants with substantial legal resources may realistically appeal a decision—regardless of scientific expertise or long-standing involvement.

My Purpose

I undertook this appeal at personal expense and without counsel because I believed the issue deserved review on its merits. While I did not prevail procedurally, I believe the public deserves an accurate description of what actually occurred.

This was not a scientific rejection of invasive species control methods. It was not a condemnation of DEC-approved treatment strategies. It was a procedural dismissal.

My professional life has been grounded in science, data, and risk management. Courts, I learned, operate differently.

I have asked VNRC to correct its newsletter to reflect these facts.

Facts Still Matter

And facts should matter--to organizations that claim to uphold environmental integrity—and to those who purport to report the news without bias or factual distortion.

Advocacy does not excuse misrepresentation, and journalism cannot function without a commitment to truth.

Lindsey C. Waterhouse
February 15, 2026

02/13/2026

Homeowner Alert –

To our neighbors in the Lake Bomoseen community:

We want to make you aware that two properties on Rustics Road experienced vandalism on Tuesday, February 10th, between approximately 11:00 PM and 12:00 AM. The perpetrator used a hammer to smash doors, windows and cameras. (Luckily Police have footage of him on cameras he didn't smash).

At this time, homeowners are encouraged to:

Review any security camera footage from that time period

Report any suspicious activity or vehicles seen in the area

Ensure homes, garages, and outbuildings are secured

Check on neighboring properties, especially seasonal or unoccupied homes

If you have any information that may be helpful, please contact local law enforcement and consider notifying your neighbors directly.

Staying aware and communicating with one another is one of the most effective ways to protect our lake community.

Thank you for looking out for each other.

10/23/2025

https://vermontlakes.org/event/webinar-5-clean-water-projects/

The 5th webinar in a series on clean water projects: Project Design & Permitting for Clean Water Projects.

08/27/2025

Fall is peeking in!

08/05/2025

07/30/2025

Thank you all so much for joining us for a night of dinner, dancing and merriment at Bomo Bash 25! What a great night!