SAWC Begins

With increasing development, the whole subject of domestic water supply, surface drainage
management, sewage disposal, lake and stream pollution and aquifer depletion is much more than
the concern of any one town.

The initiative by Lake Sunapee Protective Association, supported by Upper Valley Lake Sunapee
Regional Planning Commission and scientific studies by students at Colby-Sawyer College,
started with a series of presentations last year to representatives, including selectmen, planning
boards, and conservation commissions, of the six area towns. As a result, all of these towns have
lent support to the formation of an area watershed coalition, on which each of the towns has
representation, along with other local organizations.

The startup meeting of the Sunapee Area Watershed Coalition (SAWC) was held on January
27th, at the Ivey Center at Colby Sawyer College. This inter-town group will be concerned with
region-wide aspects of water resources and will provide feedback to town administrators on
identification of problems, on setting objectives, and in organizing district-wide solutions. The
hope is that cooperative action now on good planning will avoid enormous problems later.

Funding requests for initial organizing activities spearheaded by LSPA and UVLSRPC have been
approved through the NH Department of Environmental Services’ pilot program on watershed
planning. The Sunapee Area Watershed Coalition is one of two such pilot programs selected for
funding.