Boston Globe Article

[John Mercier]

The enforcement of the new law will be at the retailer.

For the most part, we will be able to sell organic fertilizer with higher levels of phosphorus and sell chemical fertilizer with a P-rating of approximately 15 for starter. Turfgrass maintenance chemical fertilizer should be no phosphorus versions.

10-10-10 is common among farmers developing or reclaiming new pasture.

There is no legal status other than the education of when not to apply that will be invoked to the land owner.

If the retail sells 10-10-10, but the landowner applies double the recommended quantity, the law does not cover that; nor does it cover a landowner doing so on established turfgrass.

So all the ''enforcement'' should be at the wholesale/retail level currently.

[retired]

We could always abdicate our responsibility and blame it on climate change.

[Pam]

Originally Posted by retired

We could always abdicate our responsibility and blame it on climate change.

Last summer's early cyanobacteria warnings came after an almost non-existent ice-in during the 2024 winter. According to what I've read, climate change IS a factor, and we need to address that also. Obviously the issues with fertilizer, poor septic systems, etc can be addressed more immediately. But there's no doubt the recent winters, on the whole, have been warmer making a solid ice-in more rare. We can approach this problem from many levels.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Pam

Last summer's early cyanobacteria warnings came after an almost non-existent ice-in during the 2024 winter. According to what I've read, climate change IS a factor, and we need to address that also. Obviously the issues with fertilizer, poor septic systems, etc can be addressed more immediately. But there's no doubt the recent winters, on the whole, have been warmer making a solid ice-in more rare. We can approach this problem from many levels.

That's a political "hot potato", not something to be discussed here!

[Pam]

Originally Posted by Biggd

That's a political "hot potato", not something to be discussed here!

There's nothing political about recognizing what factors are contributing to the increase in cyanobacteria warnings. I mean, is it political to acknowledge that there have been more winters recently with an incomplete or shorter ice-in period? That's just fact. And apparently it contributes to cyanobacteria, along with other factors.

Jeesh.

[West Alton Joe]

If the climate never changed, then none of us would be participating in this Winnipesaukee forum. 10,000 years ago, the climate changed, a glacier melted and created Lake Winnipesaukee. Here is an article that describes this:

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/boat...3a8814057.html

Now rather than focusing on climate change as the primary cause of the lakeÂ’s current problems (which may or may not be true), your efforts would be much better served to hold the local towns and DES responsible to be better stewards of protecting the lake. Pulling back the curtain on the town of Alton and how they have addressed a major development project in West Alton would be a good start. We used to live there but we now moved to Virginia because of this. People need to wake up and protect the valuable resource called Lake Winnipesaukee.

[Pam]

Originally Posted by West Alton Joe

If the climate never changed, then none of us would be participating in this Winnipesaukee forum. 10,000 years ago, the climate changed, a glacier melted and created Lake Winnipesaukee. Here is an article that describes this:

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/boat...3a8814057.html

Now rather than focusing on climate change as the primary cause of the lakeÂ’s current problems (which may or may not be true), your efforts would be much better served to hold the local towns and DES responsible to be better stewards of protecting the lake. Pulling back the curtain on the town of Alton and how they have addressed a major development project in West Alton would be a good start. We used to live there but we now moved to Virginia because of this. People need to wake up and protect the valuable resource called Lake Winnipesaukee.

Completely agree. We should do all we can here and now to try to combat this problem. My point is that we can do several things at once, both short term and long term. Yes, of course the climate has changed over time. But I don't see how anyone can doubt that human pollution of the air has been contributing to more rapid changes than would ordinarily take place. I mean, no-one argues that spewing pollution into bodies of water causes all kind of problems. Why is there an argument about the need to reduce emissions into the atmosphere? Who doesn't want cleaner air? Sorry- I don't get it. But yes, local education and efforts are of crucial importance.

[John Mercier]

These new projects will not have a dramatic impact on the lake.
Even new lakefront construction is done with tighter regulations than just a few years ago.

[tis]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

These new projects will not have a dramatic impact on the lake.
Even new lakefront construction is done with tighter regulations than just a few years ago.

This spring when Ctr Harbor Beach was closed due to e coli everybody was posting about people's septic systems running into the lake etc. The Ctr Harbor Fire Dept posted a release saying it wasn't from all that. They said there are no septic systems there, they are all on the pipeline to Franklin.

[John Mercier]

I think the new law is as far as they are going on septic or lawn fertilizer.

They will keep looking at surface run-off. But the newest development has more of that being figured into the planning stages than we might have done in the past.

Locally, we had an issue for a while, I solved it on my property for the entire neighborhood. Now during a rainstorm, everything drains into my retention pit.

I get the benefit of any excess from my neighbors free.

[West Alton Joe]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

These new projects will not have a dramatic impact on the lake.
Even new lakefront construction is done with tighter regulations than just a few years ago.

Nonsense, Mr. Mercier. Perhaps if the various local boards and state agencies actually followed the rules, your statement might be valid, but as someone who lived near a big development project in West Alton I can tell you that the rules were not enforced. As I had mentioned before, anyone who is concerned about the health and wellbeing of Lake Winnipesaukee should take the time to research the project. It was the primary reason we decided to leave Alton. Start asking questions.

[John Mercier]

There is not going to be septic run-off from the Grimm property down and across the highway into the lake.
There will also not be septic run-off from the LSS property into the lake.

There will also be no phosphate in the fertilizers sold for any turfgrass for either project or to any homeowner per the new law.

The State has been around twice already to verify that signage, and procurement procedures are changing at retail locations.
Just last year, we did not have that law.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by West Alton Joe

Nonsense, Mr. Mercier. Perhaps if the various local boards and state agencies actually followed the rules, your statement might be valid, but as someone who lived near a big development project in West Alton I can tell you that the rules were not enforced. As I had mentioned before, anyone who is concerned about the health and wellbeing of Lake Winnipesaukee should take the time to research the project. It was the primary reason we decided to leave Alton. Start asking questions.

For those of us who aren't next door, it would be of interest and helpful to know more about the alleged violations, location, remedies, etc. Were there no protests/questions at the time? What about the local conservation commission? They're usually paying attention. Did you ask them? Local CC's are great protectors for us all.

[John Mercier]

There were protests in the meetings.
The Grimm's were hoping to do something commercial in a residential area.

They pulled that.

On the Mount recently, we had contractor appreciation night.
We spent some time discussing the original proposal and what we expect will be the new one.

New one is still a guess, but the consensus on the guess is house, barn and orchard.
The consensus guess is about avoiding the need to change the zoning or get abatements.

[John Mercier]

Slowing climate change or the aging of the lake is a daunting task.
We live in a world were people no longer relax.