News

Group to Tour Lake Sunapee Watershed to Examine Potential Threats to Water
Resources -- Sunapee, NH – April 17, 2007 – Members of the Sunapee Area
Watershed Coalition and Granite State Rural Water Association will tour the Lake
Sunapee Watershed to examine potential threats to water quality on Saturday April 21,
2007. The purpose of this tour is to examine first hand success stories and challenges to
maintaining water quality in towns surrounding the Lake. The tour will include stops in
Georges Mills where the group will discuss invasive plant species such as milfoil, the effects
of past overflows at the sewage pump station, and water quality in Muzzey Brook.
Coalition members will also visit the site of a stream stabilization project in Springfield and
discuss the effects of road salt on Herrick Cove.

The tour is one of many sources which will inform the Coalition as it develops a
management plan for the watershed. Although water resources in the area still in relatively
healthy condition, certain ecological indicators suggest that human activity is starting to
impact water quality. For example, conductivity values, a measurement of salt
concentrations, are high in many parts of Lake Sunapee and Little Lake Sunapee. Road
salt and leachate from septic systems are likely sources. Without planning for the future,
the water quality of these lakes is likely to deteriorate. By developing and implementing a
watershed management plan for the Sunapee Area, water quality can be protected for
future generations.

The Coalition was formed in 2005 to help safeguard natural resources in the Sunapee
area. It is comprised of volunteers and members of Sunapee Area Town Boards.

According to June Fichter, “We in the Sunapee area are very fortunate to have this
opportunity and the support to create a Watershed Plan for safeguarding the area’s water
resources, especially given the area’s population growth.”

The Sunapee Area Watershed Coalition is being assisted by Granite State Rural Water
Association (GSRWA) to develop the watershed management plan. Granite State is a
nonprofit association of public water and wastewater systems. The Association works to
protect water quality in an effort to safeguard drinking water resources. The Association
also provides technical assistance and training to water and wastewater operators around
the State. According to Jennifer Palmiotto, Source Protection Specialist at GSRWA, “The
timing for this project is perfect. It’s better to act proactively. We are encouraged by the
amount of local support this project has generated. ”
For more information about the project, contact June Fichter, (603) 763-2210 or Jennifer
Palmiotto (603) 499-3038.