Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Management Plan Project Update: January 25, 2010 A Phased Approach to a Comprehensive Plan Partners Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association Lakes Region Planning Commission North Country Resource Conservation & Development Area Council Belknap County Conservation District University of New Hampshire Center for Freshwater Biology & Cooperative Extension Plymouth State University – Center for the Environment NH Dept. of Environmental Services Municipalities Other Organizations Funding NH DES – 319 Program NOAA – Watershed Planning Additional funding is required and being sought to develop a truly comprehensive plan for the watershed. Why develop a Lake Winni WMP? Balance land uses with water quality Protect the lake and livelihood Generate new opportunities to protect and conserve Lake Winnipesaukee as a state and national resource Education and stewardship Establish water quality baseline for phosphorus ID areas to restore/protect from ‘P’ Region is Growing 1998-2003 N.H. fastest growing state in New England 43% population increase 1980-2008 11% population increase 1998-2008 97,025 new single family homes built 1998-2007 Economic Vitality Tourism/Recreation Physical Features Chemical Features Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Management Lake Biology Plan Watershed Management Primary concern is currently watershed phosphorus loading and its impact on lake water quality. C+N Lake 226 Phosphorus: Important Limiting C+N+P Nutrient From: Schindler ELA, Ontario CA 1973 Nutrient Overloads Cause Blooms Eutrophication and Lake Trophic Status EUTROPHICATION: The natural process by which nutrients, organic matter and sediments gradually accumulate within a water body, resulting in decreased depth and increased biological productivity. This process can be dramatically accelerated by human activities that alter land uses, increasing sediment and nutrient loading, i.e. Cultural Eutrophication. ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS Source: lake.access project Lake Winnipesaukee WMP Proposed Phased Approach Phase I: Meredith, Laconia, Gilford Phase II: Moultonborough, Center Harbor, Tuftonboro Phase III: Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Alton Phase IV: Alton, New Durham, Gilford Phase V: Belmont, Sanbornton, Northfield, Tilton Winnipesaukee River Watershed Phased Process Evaluate water quality data Current Median Phosphorus or ‘P’ Water quality monitoring in lake and streams Projected ‘P’ – future loading potential Evaluate BMPs Evaluate Land Use Recommendations for limiting ‘P’ Public Involvement / Outreach Create a web-based plan Expand to the next phase Preliminary Water Quality Data Analysis Lake Winnipesaukee Median Total Phosphorus Trend 8 ppb NH DES limit 8 7 6 6 4.9 5 4 3 Total PhosphorusTotal (ppb) 2 1 Pre‐1998 Historical TP 1998‐2008 Summer TP 2008‐2018 Possible Future Median Median Median *P load data analysis from 25 years water quality monitoring from UNH and other sources Preliminary – Estimated In-Lake Phosphorus Loading 23% 2009 In‐lake Phosphorus Loading per Land Use Category for Total MPSB Area 7194.9 lbs Crop = 84.6 lbs Pasture = 543.3 lbs 4% Urban 2212.3 lbs Agriculture 73% Forested *Estimate of P loading generated using STEPL Model and Predictive Models Preliminary – Estimated In-Lake Phosphorus Loading per Urban Land Use 2009 In-Lake Phosphorus Loading per Urban Land Use 2% 9% Category in MPSB Watershed 2% 655.16 lbs Remainder ‐ 732.38 lbs 31% 2200.44 lbs Commercial Industrial Transportation 3501.74 lbs Multi‐Family Single‐Family 50% 6% Urban‐Cultivated *Estimate of P loading generated using STEPL Model and Predictive Models Where we are… P predictive loading models Public Outreach Subgroups Planners Group Education/Outreach Committee Water Quality Advisory Committee Stakeholder Focus Group In the meantime, here are some things you can do to keep P out of the water… Water Quality Monitoring ADOPT WINNI – Be a Bay Watcher Water Quality Monitoring Program Tributaries, near shore, and deep lake water sampling Weekly, biweekly, or monthly sampling during the months of May—September Financial support and volunteers needed #1 - Don’t ‘P’ in the water! Protect vegetation - plant buffers on shores of lakes and rivers Apply low or no P- slow release N fertilizers where allowed Create infiltration systems like rain gardens to capture runoff Grassed Raingarden/ Swale Bioretention cell Riser pipe #2 - Use BMPs to keep P-free Cross-section of a typical bioretention cell. #3 – Get Involved! Join Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Assn. Attend Wi-CAN Meetings Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Plan Volunteer Weed Watchers – exotic plants Adopt Winni – Be a Bay Watcher - volunteer to be a water quality monitor - sponsor a site Talk to your neighbors, friends, colleagues Contacts www.lakesrpc.org/lwwmp/ Erica Anderson, Senior Planner, LRPC 603-279-8171 [email protected] Pat Tarpey, Program Manager, NC RC&D 603-527-2093 [email protected] Questions? www.lakesrpc.org/lwwmp/.