LYME — The New Hampshire Department of Safety has denied a petition to limit the use of motorboats on Post Pond in Lyme.

Nearly 40 residents — many of whom are affiliated with Friends of Post Pond — submitted a petition this spring asking the Department of Safety to consider establishing a “no-wake zone” on the 114-acre pond. If approved, it would have restricted the speed at which motorboats could operate on the state-owned pond. 

In its Aug. 8 decision, the department wrote that if a no-wake zone was instituted it would be a “drastic inconvenience to many of the property owners in this area, and drastically restrict their use.” It added that the opponents’ testimony suggested that a no-wake zone “is not necessary.”

The decision noted that while petitioners provided anecdotal evidence of safety problems at the pond, no unsafe boating incidents or boat crashes had been reported to the state Marine Patrol. It described the “anecdotal evidence of a possible injury” as “insufficient” to necessitate the implementation of a no-wake zone that would apply to the entirety of Post Pond.

“As argued by the opponents, those who water ski on Post Pond have been doing so for decades, and the record contains no evidence of any boating violations involving skiing or tubing,” according to the decision. It added that “generational residents” testified that there have been no issues on Post Pond.

The decision was issued after an Aug. 1 public hearing in Lyme, where supporters of a no-wake zone testified that they were worried about the spread of milfoil in the lake, public safety and the impact on loons who nest on the lake, according to state documents.

Meanwhile, opponents argued that it would make it more difficult for them to access properties that can only be accessed by boat. 

They also maintained that the state’s safe passageway law — which requires boaters to switch to “headway speed” if they are within 150 feet of the shoreline, boats, swimmers and others in the water — is enough to address concerns about motorboats on the pond. “Headway speed” is defined as “the slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering or six miles per hour,” according to New Hampshire State Police.

The Lyme Selectboard did not take a position on the no-wake zone petition “because they felt it was the town’s decision and/or people who own property around (Post Pond),” Town Administrator Dina Cutting said.

Even though the town has a beach and swimming area on Post Pond, Cutting said it own officials do not have any say in how it is regulated since the state owns the pond.

Rather than create a no-wake zone, the department suggested “there are other ways to address this issue first.” 

It added that people should report complaints to Marine Patrol, which could increase its presence when the pond is busy to address those concerns. People can contact New Hampshire State Police’s Marine Patrol Bureau by calling 877-642-9700.

Friends of Post Pond members plan to meet Aug. 21 to talk about whether to seek a rehearing, which must be requested within 30 days of the decision. 

“We thought we’d made a pretty good case for safety and protection of wildlife and not trying to worsen the milfoil situation, but that apparently does not count for anything,” Sue MacKenzie, coordinator of the Friends group, said in an interview. “We just hope that people who enjoy using the pond can continue to do so, but do so in a safe and respectful manner.”

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.