On Wednesday, May 25^th, the Wakefield Selectmen unanimously voted to move forward with trying to solve issues along Brackett and Pond Roads that are sending polluted runoff into Lovell Lake.  The UNH Stormwater Center presented the findings of the “Road Management Plan for Brackett and Pond Roads, Wakefield, NH”.  The Plan was commissioned by AWWA and supported by the NH DES Watershed Assistance program with funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.  The area was identified as a problem for Lovell Lake’s water quality through the Lovell Lake Watershed Survey and concerns of the local residents.  A steering committee of concerned citizens, the Wakefield Road Agent, AWWA members and NHDES met with the UNH Stormwater Center over the course of a year to strategize solutions to chronic runoff issues.

Click to download the full plan or read an article in the Carroll County Independent.  Please note a correction for the article that James Houle, not James Sherrard assisted with the presentation.

In June 2010 AWWA was awarded a New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Watershed Assistance Grant to implement some of the recommendations in the Salmon Falls Headwater Lakes Watershed Management Plan (SFHL WMP) which was presented to the communities of Acton, Maine and Wakefield, New Hampshire in January 2010.

This two-year implementation project aims to protect the water quality in the five headwater lakes (Great East, Horn, Ivanhoe, Lovell and Wilson) and their tributaries through a variety of remediation, outreach and planning initiatives. For this project, AWWA will be working throughout the communities to fix existing problems, educate about the connections between our activities on land and water quality, and work with community groups to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the benefits of high quality waters.

The Plan identified five key action categories – Roadway Best Management Practices, Residential Best Management Practices, Outreach and Education, Community Planning and Development, and Land Conservation. For this project period AWWA has planned to begin work in each category.

• AWWA has contracted with the UNH Stormwater Center to develop a road maintenance plan for a town gravel road in Wakefield which will serve as a guide for lake friendly road maintenance throughout the watersheds.

• The AWWA Youth Conservation Corps will continue to correct erosion problems on residential properties that are degrading water quality.

• Community roundtables will bring together lake association members, community decision-makers and concerned citizens for brainstorming sessions to develop projects for future water quality protection.

• Floating classrooms designed to encourage participants to reduce their Phosphorus Footprint will be offered in the summer of 2011. The boat trips on local lakes will include water quality sampling, aquatic plant identification, and zooplankton examination. Adults and children are encouraged to attend.

• A survey of seasonal residents will be conducted to identify behaviors, barriers to change and possible incentives to adopt lake friendly practices.

• AWWA will work with the Towns to identify opportunities to remediate existing problems and strengthen stormwater management policies.

Watershed Management Plan Presented to Wakefield and Acton

The “Salmon Falls Headwater Lakes Watershed Management Plan” was presented on January 23^rd to 40 members of the Wakefield, NH and Acton, ME communities representing selectmen, planning boards, conservation commissions, land trusts, lake associations and concerned citizens. The plan incorporates interests and ideas expressed by many community members as well as water quality data analysis, on-the-ground observations, land-use modeling, ordinance reviews, and recommendations into what will be a useful and relevant tool to protect the waters of Wakefield and Acton over the next 10 years and beyond. The plan focuses on the Salmon Falls headwater lakes - Great East Lake, Horn Pond, Lake Ivanhoe, Lovell Lake and Wilson Lake.

The Plan was developed by FB Environmental Associates in cooperation with the Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance, NH Dept. of Environmental Services, Great East Lake Improvement Association, Lovell Lake Association, Wilson Lake Association, Horn Pond Association and Round Pond (Lake Ivanhoe) Association.

AWWA has been awarded another NH DES Watershed Assistance grant for 2010-11 which will fund some of the action items recommended in the plan including ongoing work of the AWWA Youth Conservation Corps, a partnership with the UNH Stormwater Center to design a road maintenance plan for Brackett and Pond roads along Lovell Lake, and numerous outreach activities to engage the communities in water quality protection.

Please contact Linda Schier, AWWA Executive Director, at info@AWwatersheds.org or 603-473-2500 for further information.

Funding for the Salmon Falls Headwater Lakes Watershed Plan Project was provided in part by a grant from the NH Department of Environmental Services with funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

Summary of Buildout Analysis for AWWA

The high quality waters of the Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA) region form the headwaters of the Salmon Falls River. FB Environmental (FBE) performed a buildout analysis for AWWA covering the watersheds of Great East Lake, Horn Pond, Lake Ivanhoe, Lovell Lake, Wilson Lake and all their tributaries within the towns of Acton, ME and Wakefield, NH. Performing a buildout analysis provides information about what land is available for development, how much development can occur and at what densities. Municipalities can use the analysis as a snapshot, worse-case scenario tool for planning. The buildout analysis is also a valuable tool to help model potential impacts from future development on water and other natural resources. The AWWA buildout provides estimates of the number of potential lots and units the watershed towns may see developed at some point in the future.

Read the full AWWA Build-Out Analysis or the summaries for Wakefield NH and Acton ME.