Local initiative to protect Lake Waukewan watershed wins state award

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) has awarded the Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee its first Source Water Protection Award. In the spring of 2004, the Town of Meredith initiated the formation of the Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee to prepare a management plan for the lake and its watershed. Like many New Hampshire lakes, Lake Waukewan is valued as a recreational resource, with boating, swimming, and fishing in the summer and ice fishing in the winter. Much of the lake's shore is lined with seasonal and year-round homes. Unlike most of the state's lakes, Waukewan is also a source of drinking water — the sole source of drinking water for the Meredith Water Department and its 3,000 customers.

DES named the Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee, the Town of Meredith, and Jennifer O. Palmiotto of New Hampshire Rural Water Association as recipients of the award. "The recipients were chosen because the Waukewan plan is unequalled among water supply source protection plans in New Hampshire in terms of its thoroughness, technical quality, and the participatory process by which it was developed," explained DES Commissioner Michael P. Nolin. "The document is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the participants, and serves as a model of what can be accomplished when a forward-thinking water supplier invests the time to work with town officials and other important stakeholders, with the help of a highly competent consultant committed to a participatory approach to source water protection."

Nolin also noted that, while the award is intended to recognize excellence in protecting drinking water sources, the scope of the Waukewan plan is much broader, including the full range of water quality concerns and covering all water resources in the watershed, including Lake Winona, the Snake River and several ponds.

Nolin stressed the fact that all five watershed towns — Ashland, Center Harbor, Holderness, Meredith, and New Hampton — named representatives who participated fully in the advisory committee. In forming the committee, the participants also took pains to ensure the representation of shoreland owners and other recreational interests. The committee continues to work on implementation of the plan.

"Watershed management works best when all of the key stakeholders are involved," Nolin added.

In addition to the committee itself, important participants included Meredith Water Superintendent Bob Hill, Meredith Town Planner John Edgar, and Palmiotto, who served as consultant on the project, thanks to a federal congressional appropriation to her organization.

DES will formally present the award at 1:00 p.m. on November 10 at the annual meeting of the New Hampshire Water Works Association at Hampshire Hills in Milford.