Workshop to focus on gravel road maintenance

MOULTONBOROUGH — An expert on gravel road maintenance will give workshop on Saturday, July 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Balmoral Improvement Association's Club House on Paradise Drive.

Russ Lanoie will talk about gravel road maintenance techniques that can improve performance and durability of gravel roads, reduce long-term maintenance costs, and most importantly, protect water quality by reducing stormwater runoff to nearby lakes and streams.

Organized by the Lake Winnipesaukee Association, Town of Moultonborough Public Works Department and Conservation Commission, the morning workshop will provide individuals and road associations with information on proper road construction techniques and the basic principles behind maintaining gravel/dirt roads that will provide excellent year-round service and present minimal pollution problems. The morning workshop will be followed by a site visit to assess a nearby road.

The workshop is based on Lanoie's gravel road maintenance manual, "A Ditch in Time," which will be available for purchase at the workshop. A sample of the manual is available on his website: www.ruralhometech.com. It is targeted at camp operators, road associations, private land owners who maintain long unpaved driveways, and more generally, to those who contract for dirt road maintenance.

The morning workshop will be followed by a site visit to assess a nearby road.

The workshop is free and open to the public; however, pre-registration is required. Those who want more information or who wish to register for the workshop can contact Pat Tarpey, Lake Winnipesaukee Association at 581-6632 or mail@winnipesaukee.org.