Watershed Grants
Since the late 1990's, LSPA has been awarded grant funding for a number of water resource protection projects in the Lake Sunapee Watershed including stream bank restoration and stormwater bio-retention structures. The majority of these projects were designed to slow down and capture stormwater runoff that often cause erosion and can transport sediments laden with excessive nutrients into Lake Sunapee. These projects involve a collaboration between governmental agencies, local towns and private landowners. See below for recent grant funded project(s).
Phase 2 Grant Project
LSPA just completed two more stormwater restoration projects; one at the beach access road in the Granliden Community Association (GCA) and the other on Pine Cliff Road in Newbury. Both projects addressed erosion and sedimentation entering Lake Sunapee.
The photo above shows the vegetated swale lined with erosion control matting and plantings for stabilizing wet soils along the Granliden beach access road.
The work was a joint effort between LSPA, GCA, Newbury Highway Department, NH 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. Cash and in-kind match for these projects was provided by the GCA and Newbury Highway Department.
A paved swale is leading to an infiltration trench on Pine Cliff Road.
Phase 1 Grant Project
Phase 1 Grant Project - Beck Brook floodplain creation with plantings and log boulder steps (seen here) designed to stabilize stream banks and improve wildlife habitat. Implemented in September 2022.
The Phase 1 Grant project addressed two sites and was implemented in 2022 (see above images). LSPA collaborated with the NH Department of Environmental Services, NH Fish & Game, Vail, and the New London Highway department. Funding for this grant project was provided in part by a Watershed Assistance Grant from the NH Department of Environmental Services with Clean Water Act Section 319 funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In-kind match in the form of time, labor, equipment and cash was provided by Vail and the New London Highway Department. These sites were identified as in need of stormwater improvements in the 2020 lake Sunapee Watershed Management Plan. The completion of these projects works toward meeting the water quality goal set in the plan.
2020 Watershed Management plan
LSPA completed this plan in March 2020 which was partially funded with Federal Clean Water Act funds that is administered through the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). The main goal of the new plan is to identify strategies to reduce current and future phosphorus loading into Lake Sunapee to avoid a decline in water quality. For more information or if you have questions regarding the watershed management plan, please contact Project Manager Geoff Lizotte.