Eagle Times Staff
SUNAPEE, NH — Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA)’s most recent work to improve the water quality of Lake Sunapee focused on reducing the negative impact of stormwater runoff at the Granliden Community Association (GCA) beach access road in Sunapee and on Pine Cliff Road in Newbury.
Both projects addressed the erosion and sedimentation that was occurring at these locations. Reducing phosphorus levels in the lake is crucial to maintaining Lake Sunapee’s high-water quality, as increased levels of phosphorus can lead to more algae and cyanobacteria blooms and a reduction in water clarity.
The GCA project involved the construction of grass swales, sediment traps and an earthen berm planted with native shrubs and groundcover. The project on Pine Cliff Road included sediment traps, a stone lined infiltration trench and a paved swale that redirects water into the trench. These stormwater management practices are designed to slow down runoff and collect sand and debris before it enters the lake.
“These projects would not have been possible without the collaboration and support from the Granliden Community Association and General Manager Andy Fowler, Newbury Highway Administrator Cal Prussman, and Newbury Highway Foreman Tate Sweetbrown, and private landowners Jack Fitzgerald and Mike Cerato,” said Geoff Lizotte, LSPA watershed director.
The completed projects were a joint effort between LSPA, GCA, Newbury Highway Department, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) and Stone Environmental. Funding was provided in part by a Watershed Assistance Grant from NHDES with Clean Water Act Section 319 funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additional funds and in-kind matches for these projects were provided by the GCA and Newbury Highway Department.
For more information, visit lakesunapee.org.
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