Watershed Management Bureau

  New Hampshire Clean Lakes Program

The Clean Lakes Program involves the diagnostic evaluation of water quality within a given watershed. Lakes and ponds in New Hampshire are recommended for the Clean Lakes Program if data from other monitoring programs, like the DES Lake Survey Program or the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP), show signs of declining water quality over time.

The New Hampshire Clean Lakes Program at the Department of Environmental Services was established in 1990 and is governed by RSA Chapter 487, Section 487:15. At that time, the general court recognized that rapidly escalating pressures of shorefront development and recreational uses of public waters had placed increasing strains upon the state’s lake resources, thereby accelerating the eutrophication process in many of our public lakes through nuisance growths of aquatic macrophyton and phytoplankton (algae) and thus posing a threat to water quality. The general court further recognized the need to restore, preserve and maintain the state’s lakes and ponds in order that these significant environmental, aesthetic and recreational assets will continue to benefit the social and economic well-being of the state’s citizens.

Diagnostic studies are typically conducted over the course of a 16-month period, and hydrologic and nutrient inputs to lakes and ponds from their watersheds are monitored for a range of chemical, biological, physical and ecological parameters. Land use patterns and characteristics are also evaluated through the course of this study. These data are used to develop hydrologic and nutrient budgets for the lake, and are ultimately used to pinpoint elevated sources of nutrients or other inputs to the waterbody from its watershed.

Volunteers from the lake or pond are encouraged to assist in collecting samples, much like their role in the VLAP program. A strong relationship with the lake association and local town(s) is integral in formulating a long-term management strategy for the lake and its watershed.

The following Diagnostic Studies are available by request:

Beaver Lake, Derry, 1993
Crystal Lake and Dorrs Pond, Manchester, 1985
Flints Pond, Hollis, 1997
French and Keyser Pond, Henniker, 1988
Great Pond, Kingston, 1999
Mendums Pond, Barrington, 1999
Robinson and Ottarnick Ponds, Hudson, 1994
Wentworth Lake, Wolfeboro, 1999
Silver Lake, Harrisville, 1999

For more information contact:

Andy Chapman
Clean Lakes Program Coordinator
NH Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive, PO Box 95
Concord, NH 03302-0095
Phone: 603-271-5334
Fax: 603-271-7894
E-mail: Andrew.Chapman@des.nh.gov