The Sunapee Area Watershed Coalition
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SAWC Announcement to appear in 2007 Town Reports
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WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
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The above article is scheduled to be published in the 2007 Annual Town Reports of the towns of Goshen,
Newbury, New London, Springfield, Sunapee and Sutton.
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SAWC: The link between land use and water quality
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In January 2005, Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA) supported by the Upper
Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission (UVLSRPC) was selected by NH
DES to receive grants to participate in the NH DES Watershed Pilot Program. SAWC is
made up of Sunapee watershed (Newbury, New London, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton)
town representatives, residents, lake associations, non-profits, and other interested parties
and is currently working with Granite State Rural Water Association to write a Watershed
Management Plan for the Lake Sunapee Watershed. Coalition members have identified
the major threats to the local water bodies, and are currently working on
recommendations. A Watershed Plan draft will be available for review early in 2008.
Three reports have been completed this year:
• an updated study of the watershed on maximum buildings and population
• a comparison of regulations of the six watershed Towns and assessment by UVLSRPC;
• a water quality computer model which uses inputs such as storm data and predicts total
phosphorus.
In 2007, a mid-year report was issued and distributed at town offices; reports were
presented to several watershed towns’ selectmen. In 2008, SAWC is planning to select a
demonstration project relative to the pilot grant.
This year a SAWC subcommittee (Watershed Advisory Committee) has been working on
the Watershed Plan. This subcommittee toured important sites in the watershed, from
stormwater handling examples, to the state’s salt barn, from a managed forest to a
problematic grandfathered subdivision, and water supply infrastructure.
Five areas of focus resulted:
1) Erosion Control. Requirements for slopes greater than 15% should be considered and
soil type criteria should be included. Sediment should always be retained in the
development area.
2) StormWater. Requirements for handling run-off as a result of development can be
better covered. Criteria should be adopted to control flow by use of level-spreaders or
vegetated buffers before run-off enters ditches or streams. Regulations should include long
term maintenance of stormwater controls and should be included in Town property records.
3) Waste Disposal. State regulations apply to septic system design and site selection.
Criteria should be introduced for inspection and maintenance. Town records should include
location, design and maintenance history.
4) Buffer Zones. In view of the critical role played in preserving water quality, definition
and criteria for structure maintenance should be required and in town property records.
Width, clearing limitations, soil type and slope must be considered.
5) Water Supply. High quality water supply is a basic need. While surface water quality
is monitored and public supplies are covered by State regulations, no comprehensive data
on location, type, depth, and flow are available on private wells. Such information could be
developed and a program of testing be instituted so that long term trends can be followed
and threats identified.
The SAWC Watershed Plan draft will be submitted to the Town Boards for review in
early 2008. It is intended that recommendations should be incorporated into Master Plans
and be a guide for Planning and Zoning Boards.
Respectfully submitted: Aimee Ayers (Newbury), Anita Blakeman (Sutton), Peggy
Chalmers (Sunapee PB), Terry Dancy (New London CC), June Fichter (LSPA), Deane
Geddes (Newbury CC), Cynthia Hayes (Springfield CC), Charlie Hirshberg (Sunapee),
Ken Lawson (Springfield, Kolelemook), Suzanne Levine (Newbury CC), Kathryn Holmes
(Newbury ZBA&CC); resource staff: Jennifer Palmiotto (GSRWA), Robert Wood
(LSPA), Peter Dzewaltowski (UVLSRPC
