Vermont fish and wildlife departments vaneverest access area is one of the larger access areas on lake champlain

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service awarded Vermont Department Fish & Wildlife a Sport Fish Restoration (CFDA 15.605) Formula Grant of $713,498 on October 1, 2025, for completion by September 30, 2027. The primary deliverable is the construction of boating infrastructure at the VanEverest Access Area on Lake Champlain in Milton, Vermont. Specifically, the Vermont Department Fish & Wildlife will construct a new two-lane concrete boat ramp with an 8-foot-wide dock to replace the existing single-lane ramp that has become functionally inadequate due to shallow water depths and vulnerability to high winds.

This project directly addresses critical infrastructure limitations that currently render the ramp unusable by mid-July each year and restrict access to larger motorboats. Upon completion, the new facility will enable year-round boating access in nearly all weather conditions and accommodate watercraft of all sizes, thereby alleviating excessive recreational boating pressure at the nearby St. Albans Bay Access Area. The project aligns with the Sport Fish Restoration program's core mission to enhance public access to aquatic recreational resources and support sport fishery conservation across the nation.

Unfortunately, access to the lake from this site is extremely difficult due to the shallow and narrow single lane ramp, which is also vulnerable to high winds. Currently, due to the lack of water depths and ramp length, the ramp is typically unusable by mid-july. The department plans to alleviate this issue by constructing a new 2-lane concrete boat ramp with an 8 FT wide dock. The new access will allow motorboats of all sizes to launch from this site in nearly all conditions. Additionally, IT will alleviate extremely high boating pressure at the nearby ST albans BAY access area.