Major EPA Grants Awarded to LWA- Kickoff Meetings tonight!

[Lake Winnipesaukee Assoc]

LWA has been awarded $650,000 in grants to safeguard the lake. This funding allows LWA to complete watershed and water quality analysis for the 3 remaining bays: Center Harbor Bay, the Broads and Alton Bay. See more info below.

The Broads and Alton Bay subwatersheds kickoff meetings are TONIGHT. FB Environmental will present an overview of the steps involved in the development of a water quality study to identify sources of pollutants that can lead to water quality impairments and the actions needed to mitigate and maintain our high water quality.

The Broads Kickoff meeting will be held tonight from 4-5 PM at the Gilford Public Library. The Alton Bay Kickoff meeting will be from 6-7pm at the Alton Town Hall. The Center Harbor Bay meeting was last night. These meetings will not be recorded and are unable to be streamed, but we will post the presentations on the events section of our website.

We are also seeking volunteers from Meredith, Moultonborough, Alton, Gilford and Center Harbor to be part of the advisory committees for this project. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn how you can help protect our watershed! These events are free and open to everyone! Don’t miss out on being a part of this important community initiative. If you have any questions contact LWA at 603-581-6632.

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The Lake Winnipesaukee Association (LWA) has been awarded $650,000 in federal grants to support the non-profit environmental group’s work to safeguard and improve water quality in Lake Winnipesaukee. The grants represent the organization’s largest awards to date, arriving at a crucial moment for lake protection.

“The Lake Winnipesaukee Association plays a pivotal role in preserving and improving water quality in the Lakes Region, including Lake Kanasatka and Lake Winnipesaukee, which is critical to driving economic growth and tourism across the region,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen. “I was glad to secure federal funds to support LWA’s work to protect New Hampshire’s most valuable freshwater resources and expand lake protection efforts for years to come.”

To match the federal grants, LWA needs to raise at least $150,000 in new funding and has launched a fundraising campaign to increase membership support and garner local donations. “We are counting on people and businesses who value Lake Winnipesaukee’s clean water to help us reach our goal,” said LWA Board Chair Peter Glick of Tuftonboro.

The collective resources from the EPA and public will aid the LWA in developing a comprehensive management strategic plan for the lake, and implement critical mitigation measures on Lake Kanasatka. The projects will pinpoint and prioritize sources of phosphorus and other harmful pollutants threatening the lake’s water quality across the watershed. To date, LWA has evaluated six of the ten bays comprising Lake Winnipesaukee, and is currently partnering with the Town of Wolfeboro on a watershed-based plan for Wolfeboro Bay. The new funding allows the organization to complete watershed and water quality analyses for the remaining 3 bays; Center Harbor Bay, the Broads, and Alton Bay. In addition, LWA will work with the shorefront communities to develop and promote sustainable land use practices that protect watershed resources, adopt consistent regulations and ordinances for watershed protection, and conduct extensive community engagement to support and secure funding for a long-term sustainable watershed protection program.

“EPA’s grant will help the Lake Winnipesaukee Association address the threats that imperil Lake Winnipesaukee’s water quality,” said Pat Tarpey, LWA’s President. “If we don’t take steps to protect this resource right now, we risk seeing the lake’s water quality continue to decline which in turn will threaten the economy of the region.”

More than forty years of scientific data show an increase in the levels of phosphorus in the lake which can lead to significant water quality problems including harmful algae blooms, low oxygen levels and declines in wildlife habit and recreational water quality. Excessive levels of phosphorus have been linked to cyanobacteria blooms, an increasing health threat around the lake during summer. The major sources of phosphorus reaching the lake are from polluted stormwater runoff, erosion, fertilizer use, septic systems, and more.