Lake Patrol Unit

The Town of Holland is home to the Hamilton Reservoir which the Police Department patrols on a regular basis during the summer. Members of our Lake Patrol Unit are specially trained in Massachusetts boating laws and regulations along with water safety and rescue.

The goal of the unit is to provide the safest environment possible for Holland residents and their guests while enforcing the rules and regulations set forth by the town and by statute. Regulations governing inland waters are established and enforced pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Code of Massachusetts Regulations, and Federal Navigation Rules, in addition to municipal ordinances, commonly referred to as town bylaws. In 2017, the Holland Police Department presented a new bylaw recommendation to the citizens titled Recreational Use of Inland Waters. This completely replaced the old bylaw titled "Hamilton Reservoir Boating Regulations". You may review our bylaw in its entirety here: Recreational Use of Inland Waters [Regulations & Full Bylaw]

The unit is also part of our ongoing community policing plan by making our Officers more visible and allowing the public greater access to them. The Town of Holland owns a 2016 Crestliner, [Marine 1], which is specially outfitted for the purpose of police patrol as well as rescue operations. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Lake Patrol Unit Division Commander, Sergeant Edwin F. Ward

Hamilton Reservoir Boating Safety Rules & Regulations:

The Hamilton Reservoir Boating Safety Rules & Regulations publication has been authored by the Holland Police Department and is distributed for the purpose of providing safety and regulatory guidelines to those who utilize the waters of the Hamilton Reservoir and Lake Siog. The regulations contained are intended to be followed in addition to other Federal, State, and local laws. 

Age Restrictions: 

No person under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat unless accompanied on board and directly supervised by a competent person 18 years of age or older. Persons who are between 12 and 15 years of age must complete an approved basic boating course in order to operate a motorboat without adult supervision. Upon successful completion of such a course, students are issued a state boating safety certificate which must be in the possession of the certified operator when underway.

Personal Watercraft Restrictions:

• PWC users must be at least 16 years of age in order to operate. Persons, less than 16 years of age are prohibited from operating a personal watercraft.
• PWC users who are 16 or 17 years of age must complete a boating safety course as described by law.
• No person shall operate a PWC between sunset and sunrise. No person operating a PWC shall tow any person in any manner.

Vessel Registration-Accident Reporting:

• All vessels in operation shall be registered appropriately in accordance with the law.
• The operator of any vessel involved in an accident that results in personal injury, death, or property damage (over $500), shall immediately notify the MA Environmental Police and file the appropriate accident report within the required time frame.

Safety Equipment:

• In Massachusetts, life preservers are required to be worn by the following:
  • persons less than 12 years of age
  • personal watercraft users
  • water-skiers [including those on tubes etc...]
  • canoeists/kayakers from September 15 - May 15
• A vessel owner or operator is responsible to ensure that passengers on-board wear life preservers as required.
• All power-driven vessels (with the exception of personal watercraft) must be equipped with an anchor, manual bailer, and a sufficient line/rope.
• All power-driven vessels less than 16 feet in length (with the exception of personal watercraft), must carry on board a paddle or oar.
• All vessels towing a person on water skis or a similar device must be equipped with a ladder, steps, platform or similar device that can be used to retrieve the person being towed from the water.
• Proper navigation lights must be used when away from dock between sunset and sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility.

Town of Holland Operating Regulations for Inland Waters [Abbreviated/Please refer to the official by law for full text]:

• On the waters of the Hamilton Reservoir, all power-driven vessels shall travel in a counter-clockwise direction. All power-driven vessel speeds shall be limited to no greater than 10 MPH until 11:00 am on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays.
• No vessel shall tow more than two [2] persons simultaneously who are engaged in water skiing or who are in tow in any other manner.
• All vessels engaged in towing persons who are water skiing or who are in tow in any other manner shall be occupied by an observer, other than the operator, at least 12 years of age, who shall be constantly observing the persons being towed. No person operating a Personal Watercraft [PWC] shall tow any person in any manner.
• All vessels shall be operated in a safe and courteous manner while maintaining safe speeds and distances. No person shall operate any vessel or PWC in a manner that fails to exercise the degree of care necessary to prevent the endangering of life, limb, or property of any person.
• No person shall operate in a negligent manner, which includes at a speed of greater than 45 mph, erratically or at a high speed in a congested area, in fog or stormy conditions, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and near or through areas that are being utilized by swimmers or divers.

Important Links:

For information about the Lake Siog Recreation Area [Holland Pond] and E. Brimfield Lake: US Army Corps of Engineers

For Information about Massachusetts boating laws: Massachusetts Environmental Police