Putting lake protection into practice at Resort on the Bay

LACONIA ― For Rich Tilton and his family, Resort on the Bay is much more than a property on Paugus Bay. Their family is only the second to own the land. Originally designated through a Revolutionary War grant to Dudley Prescott, Robert and Bertha Tilton purchased the property from the Prescott family in 1954, beginning a family connection to this special place that has now lasted more than 70 years.

With that history comes a deep appreciation for Paugus Bay and a recognition of the responsibility to be good stewards of our waterbodies.

Over the past several years, Rich and his family have been working to improve how stormwater is managed at the property, which sits between Route 3 (Weirs Boulevard) and Paugus Bay. Because of the site's location, stormwater runoff from Route 3 and the surrounding upland areas can flow across the property and into the bay, carrying sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants with it.

Rather than simply accepting that runoff is a consequence of being located along a busy roadway, they have continued to invest in improvements designed to better manage it and protect Paugus Bay. The work actually began years ago. In 2018, Resort on the Bay installed a stormwater rain garden, grass swale, perforated drainage pipes, and several diversion structures to improve the way water moves across the property.

The latest project builds upon that work.

In April 2023, Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance secured funding to complete a Hydrologic Assessment for Langley Brook, the main tributary to Langley Cove in Paugus Bay. The assessment recommended implementing stormwater control measures for impervious surfaces and limiting stormwater runoff to the Cove.

In October 2024, LWA met with Laconia Public Works Director Wes Anderson to review sites identified in the hydrologic assessment. Wes suggested LWA connect with Rich, who was already working with the city on accessibility improvements near Resort on the Bay.

When we reached out, the Tiltons were immediately supportive. Rich shared the property's existing site plans, drainage plans, inspection and maintenance agreement, and other information necessary to begin moving the project forward. Because much of that groundwork was already in place, we were able to move quickly.

LWA secured a $30,000 grant from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services’ Local Source Water Protection Grant Program. This grant program provides support for actions that protect local sources of drinking water. However, the grant covered only a portion of the project costs, with Resort on the Bay making a significant investment to complete the improvements.

The first phase of work focused on an area of the property where stormwater has historically flowed across the beach and parking area, causing erosion, shoreline degradation, and increased sediment in the cove.

The new improvements convey runoff from Route 3 through a grass swale to a stormwater basin before it reaches the lake. A portion of the existing sand beach has also been converted to a vegetated area.

While these may sound like relatively simple changes, they can make a big difference in what reaches Langley Cove, and ultimately Paugus Bay.

Together, these stormwater control measures, or SCMs, are designed to trap and filter stormwater before it reaches the lake, reducing nutrient inflow as well as erosion and sediment delivery into the bay.

And the Tiltons aren’t stopping there.

A second improvement phase is planned to address runoff from the property's parking area adjacent to Route 3. That work will replace the existing gravel area with permeable pavers to improve drainage and reduce runoff.

Stormwater can carry much more than just water. As it moves across roads, parking areas, and other impervious surfaces, it can pick up sediment, nutrients, bacteria, oils, heavy metals, and other pollutants and carry them directly into nearby waterbodies.

That makes this work especially important along Paugus Bay, where Route 3 closely follows the shoreline and there is often very little natural buffer between developed areas and the water.

A stormwater system inspection and maintenance plan is now in place to ensure the improvements continue functioning as intended. Rich is responsible for inspecting the system annually during a storm event and documenting maintenance that is needed and completed. That maintenance matters.

The Tiltons and Resort on the Bay are a great example of what can happen when property owners recognize an opportunity to make a difference and are willing to invest in solutions. From the improvements first installed in 2018 to the work being completed today, and the next phase planned for the parking area, this is a long-term commitment to better property management for generations to come.

The project also comes at an important time for Lake Winnipesaukee. Our newly released State of Lake Winnipesaukee Assessment documents the trends we are seeing across the lake and the mounting threats that need to be addressed to change its future.

But the assessment isn't just about identifying problems. It is about what comes next.

Projects like Resort on the Bay are what that next step can look like: identifying where pollutants are entering the lake, working with the people who care for those properties, and putting practical solutions on the ground that reduce those impacts.

To learn more about the threats facing Lake Winnipesaukee, and how you can help protect its future, visit winnipesaukee.org.

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Bree Rossiter is the associate director of the Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance, the only nonprofit dedicated to protecting the water quality and natural resources of Lake Winnipesaukee and its watershed through science, education, advocacy, and collaborative solutions. Her work focuses on advancing long-term watershed protection initiatives and connecting science with practical solutions to help preserve the lake for future generations. To learn more, visit winnipesaukee.org.