Scotts Miracle-Gro has eliminated phosphorus from its Turfbuilder brand fertilizers. The phosphorus free fertilizers should be available in most stores for purchase. This is great news for lake and stream front property owners as well as all watershed residents.
Also read about it here http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2013/05/10/scotts-drops-phosphorus-from-lawn-fertilizer.html
When: Saturday, June 1, 2013
Where: DES Offices, 29 Hazen Dr., Concord, NH
Time: 8:30am – 12:00pm
Don’t miss the VLAP Annual Refresher Workshop! Join fellow volunteers and lake enthusiasts to learn about the Acton Wakefield Watershed Alliance’s Youth Conservation Corps stormwater management projects and stormwater management for roads, identify aquatic exotic plants, and refresh your VLAP sampling skills. Honor your fellow volunteers and see who takes home the Volunteer Limnologist and Secchi Disk Awards.
For more information and to register visit http://www.des.state.nh.us/organization/divisions/water/wmb/vlap/categories/training.htm
The 2012 Regional Reports and Individual Lake Reports are now available on the VLAP website at http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/vlap/annual_reports/2012/index.htm
To find your lake, click on Individual Lake Report and locate your lake name under the appropriate regional heading.
Recommended article Why I Count Glass Eels in the New York Times by Akiko Busch, author of “The Incidental Steward: Reflections on Citizen Science.”
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) announced today that just over $2.2 million is available this spring for grants to protect drinking water supply lands in the southern I-93 corridor communities of Salem, Windham, Derry, Londonderry and Manchester and in the Lake Massabesic Watershed, which includes portions of Auburn, Hooksett, Candia and Chester.
The money comes from a fund established to offset impacts to wetlands and streams associated with the widening of Interstate 93 between the Massachusetts border in Salem and the I-93/I-293 interchange in Manchester. Through an agreement with the NH Department of Transportation, this grant money is administered by NHDES’s Water Supply Land Protection Grant Program.
In this program, municipalities and non-profit land trusts may apply for grants to cover up to 25 percent of the value of land or conservation easements critical to the quality of public drinking water supplies.
Eligibility applications are due May 31, 2013. NHDES will notify eligible applicants by July 1, 2013 and final applications will be due August 15, 2013. Grants will be awarded based on priority ranking and availability of funding.
More information on these grants, including a map of the eligible land, and copies of application forms are available on-line at http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/dwgb/dwspp/land_acqui/index.htm or by contacting Holly Green at (603) 271-3114 or holly.green@des.nh.gov.
EPA has released a new fact sheet as part of its Healthy Watersheds initiative describing the economic benefits of protecting healthy watersheds by highlighting examples from existing peer-reviewed literature and studies. EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Initiative is intended to protect the Nation’s remaining healthy watersheds, prevent them from becoming impaired, and accelerate restoration successes. It encourages interested states to take a strategic, systems approach to protecting healthy watersheds that recognizes the dynamic and interconnected nature of aquatic ecosystems.
The fact sheet describes studies that demonstrate protecting healthy watersheds can reduce capital costs for water treatment plants and reduce damages to property and infrastructure due to flooding, thereby avoiding future costs. Additionally, examples in the fact sheet show that protecting healthy watersheds can generate revenue through property value premiums, recreation, and tourism. This fact sheet directs readers to important resources to learn more about the substantial efforts to monetize ecosystem services from across the country. This fact sheet is also a resource for those doing outreach to promote the protection of healthy watersheds. The fact sheet is available at: http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/upload/economic_benefits_factsheet2.pdf
NHACD – Merrimack River Outreach Events
Your Land, Clean Water, Your Legacy
(Contoocook River Watershed & Upper Merrimack River Watershed)
Due to the findings in the USDA Private Forests, Public Benefits report, the Contoocook and Merrimack river watersheds are ranked #2 and #4 nationwide to experience the most change in water quality as a result of increases in housing density on private forestlands. Come find out what you can do and how you can help prevent this from happening.
May 23, 2012, 6-8PM
Pat’s Peak, Henniker, NH
FREE, pre-registration required
(Register by June 8, 2012 to enjoy refreshments)
June 21, 2012, 6-8PM
Jellystone Park, New Hampton, NH
FREE, pre-registration required (Register by May 16, 2012 to enjoy refreshments)
To register, contact Kerry Rickrode at (603) 673- 2409 Ext. 100, kerry.rickrode@nh.nacdnet.net or www.hillsboroughccd.com
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
8:30 to 4:00
Grappone Conference Center
Concord, NH
This workshop has become the largest drinking water source protection event in New England and is the only statewide event focused solely on how to protect local sources of drinking water. The event will feature policymakers, scientists, water supply managers and local officials, who will present their work and views on a range of topics. These topics include emerging contaminants, shoreland protection law changes, examples of low-impact development (LID), implementing Best Management Practices (BMPS), and results of studies on chloride contamination, leak detection surveys, and low dose arsenic exposure.
For additional information or to register please visit: http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/dwgb/dwspp/workshop.htm
or contact Pierce Rigrod, DES Drinking Water Groundwater Bureau at pierce.rigrod@des.nh.gov or (603) 271-0688.
Stephen Craig with his innovative sampling pole.
What lake or pond do you monitor?
Province Lake in Effingham and Wakefield NH and Parsonfield ME.
How long have you been monitoring this waterbody and/or volunteering with VLAP?
I have been taking water samples for the past 7 years.
Background: Tell us about yourself: occupation/former occupation, how long have you lived (seasonally or year-round) on the lake? What are your interests?
I am an alumnus of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management. I worked in the US Government, Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Control in the Flight Service option for 21 years in which 18 of those years were in management. One of our primary functions was Pilot Weather Briefing, so I know a bit about weather. This background will be a player later in my profile. My parents bought our property in 1952 and in 2003 my wife and I retired here. I have enjoyed my childhood summers on the lake, left it for a while through my college, military, and professional years, and then revisited it on our honeymoon in 1982 and have loved it ever since. My interests focus mainly around the lake being on the Board of Directors for water quality and weed watching. My wife, Mary, is very active with the Loon Monitoring program. Also, my wife and I maintain our private road summer and winter, and of course I am interested in weather.
What motivated you to start volunteering with VLAP?
My neighbor, Dick Thomas, used to take the lake samples and I used to tag along occasionally. He moved away in 2004 and he trained me to do the job. I have enjoyed taking the lake samples ever since.
How many other volunteers assist you with monitoring activities?
Mostly it is my wife as we take samples during the week and much of the lake is habited by weekenders. I have trained other volunteers so I will be able to pass the torch when the time comes.
What do you feel is the main threat to your lake or pond, or what is/are your biggest concerns?
The biggest concern to our lake is simple really – Pollution. Pollution can come from many forms such as watershed runoff, old or badly designed septic systems, erosion, exotic aquatic weeds, or weather (there’s that darn weather term again).
How has the data you have collected assisted your lake, pond or community?
By understanding the importance of water quality and how it helps the community prosper economically, for family enjoyment and health. Also, helping other landowners with issues that make for poor water quality.
What has been your greatest achievement through VLAP?
My greatest achievement would be testing the inlets for any possible contamination and correcting the problem before they become a greater problem.
What are your fondest memories about your lake or pond?
My fondest memories are when I was growing up; my family took summer vacations on the lake. Then it was taking summer vacations with my lovely wife and daughter.
What is your fondest memory of volunteer monitoring?
My fondest memory would be the water sample my wife and I tried to take on July 24, 2008. It began with a little rain in the early morning so I checked the weather radar. I noticed a line of thunderstorms approaching but wouldn’t arrive in our area until after noon. The morning turned real calm and rain had ended so we decided to head to the deep spot. Our house phone was not working so I called in to the lab and left a message from my cell phone as we headed out. The lake was so calm that we did not set the anchor. As we were filling the 2 meter bottles ripples appeared on the water so I set the anchor. Then rain started pelting us and the wind picked up even stronger. I told my wife this was not supposed to happen. The weather turned so bad we quit sampling and headed for the shore as the boat was now bouncing off waves. I looked at the weather radar and that line of thunderstorms moved faster then forecasted. After noon I left to go food shopping and my cell phone had a few voice mails from friends and family asking if we were all right. Then, as a drove down the hill, I saw all the devastation. Downed trees all over the place. I looked at the trees position on the ground and knew a tornado had done this – about a mile from our house! That’s what I call a fond and lasting memory.
