Watershed Management Bureau

  Lakes Management and Protection

    Agencies with Lake Related Responsibilities

The following is a general guide to New Hampshire state agencies, councils, committees and academic institutions that perform activities that directly or indirectly affect lake management in the state. The information contained within this document is not all inclusive. For more information please go to the websites via the links provided.

DES Bureaus and Programs

• Department of Environmental Services
  • Steward of state-owned (waterfront) property.
    • Office of the Commissioner
      • Laboratory Services Unit
        • Analyzes water samples.
      • Environmental Health Programs
        • Mercury Fish Consumption Advisories
      • Planning Unit
        • Provides technical assistance on smart growth and minimum impact development practices.
    • Water Division
      • Dam Bureau
        • Regulates dams.
        • Regulates water levels.
      • Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau
        • Oversees the operation of all public water systems to ensure compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and New Hampshire SDWA.
        • Reviews proposals to create and/or expand public water systems.
        • Provides technical assistance to identify and solve problems with public water systems.
        • Maintains database of drinking water samples collected by public water systems for water quality.
        • Performs field inspections of public water systems.
          • Drinking Water Source Protection Program
            • Promotes and provides assistance with groundwater and aquifer protection, and the protection of water supply watersheds.
            • Provides technical and financial assistance for the protection of water supply lands.
            • Provides training of teachers and non-formal educators with respect to water-related youth education.
          • Hydrology and Conservation Section
            • Reviews permits for new community water supply wells and large groundwater withdrawals to ensure safe and sustainable water supplies.
            • Implements water conservation program.
            • Enforces water use registration and reporting program.
            • Implements groundwater discharge permitting program.
            • Implements program to eliminate illicit floor drains and other illicit discharges to groundwater.
      • Watershed Management Bureau
        • Beach and Pool Inspection Program
        • Biomonitoring Program
        • Boat Pumpouts (Clean Vessel Act)
        • Clean Lakes Program
        • Lake Water Quality Reports
        • Exotic Species Program
        • Lakes Management and Protection Program
          • Reviews and makes recommendations regarding the disposition of state-owned (waterfront) property.
        • Surface Water Quality Assessments [Sections 305(b) and 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act ]
        • Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
        • Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP)
        • Volunteer River Assessment Program (VRAP)
        • Diagnostic Studies
        • Watershed Assistance Section
          • Provides technical assistance to watershed organizations, lake associations, and others working with lakes.
        • 401 Water Quality Certificate Program
          • Water quality standards attainment: Any applicant for a federal permit or license (e.g., US Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit, Federal Energy Regulator Commission license) must apply for and receive from DES a 401 Certification for any activity that requires a federal permit or license that may result in any discharge.
      • Wetlands Bureau
        • Regulates wetlands and shoreline structures (docks, breakwaters, beaches).
        • Reviews permits for culvert placement and bank stabilization.
          • Shoreland Protection Program
            • Implements and enforces the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act.
            • Promotes and provides technical assistance with maintaining woodland shoreland buffers.
            • Develops criteria for the placement of structures to preserve water quality.

  Other NH Agencies, Councils, Committees and Academic Institutions

  • Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food
    • Division of Regulatory Services
      • Responds to water quality complains about the misuse of manure, fertilizer, and compost.
      • Published BMPs for the best use of manure, fertilizer, and compost to protect water quality.
      • Administers the Agricultural Nutrient Management grant program, which must contain a water quality objective.
    • Division of Pesticide Control
      • Administers and permits pesticide and herbicide applications to lakes.
  • NH State Conservation Committee
    • Oversees and provides support to New Hampshire's Conservation Districts.
    • Facilitates coordination of the activities of federal, state, county and local governments in natural resource conservation.
    • Manages and promotes State Conservation Committee Moose Plate Grants Program.
    • Represents conservation interests on Lakes Management Advisory Committee, Conservation License Plate Advisory Committee, Moose Plate Marketing Committee, Agricultural Structures Advisory Committee, and other groups.
  • Fish and Game Department
    • Steward of state-owned (waterfront) property.
      • Statewide Public Access Program
      • Fish Hatchery Program
      • Threatened and Endangered Animal Program
      • Nuisance Animal Species Program
      • Aquatic Habitat Acquisition Program
      • Inland and marine fisheries research and management
      • On-water fishing activity regulation
      • On-ice activity program
        • Regulates snowmobile use on-ice.
      • Enforcement of Wildlife/Fisheries Rules and Laws
  • Department of Health and Human Services
    • Division of Public Health
      • Works with DES regarding water quality issues.
  • Office of Energy and Planning
    • Smart Growth Planning and Assistance
    • Conservation Land Stewardship Program (CLS)
    • Municipal and Regional Planning Assistance Program
    • National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
    • Recreation Planning and Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)
    • State Development Plan
  • Department of Resources and Economic Development
    • Steward of state-owned (waterfront) property.
      • Division of Parks and Recreation
        • Administers Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund for acquisition of conservation lands and the development of recreational facilities.
        • Manages state park lands (many located on lakes).
      • Division of Forest and Lands
        • Regulates forestry practices, including cutting along lake and river shorelines.
        • Manages state forest lands.
  • Department of Safety
    • Division of Safety Services
      • Boating law enforcement on all public waters
      • Regulates watercraft.
      • Provides boater education.
      • Mooring regulations
      • Maintains aids to navigation.
      • Homeland Security/Port security responsibilities
  • Department of Transportation
    • Steward of state-owned (waterfront) property.
      • Bureau of Rails and Transit
      • Bureau of Operations
        • Access to public waters
      • Bureau of Aeronautics
        • Oversees seaplane landing zones on surface waters and on-ice runways.
  • Governor and Executive Council
    • Approves "major" wetlands permits.
    • Approves disposition of state-owned (waterfront) property.
    • Approves mooring fields.
  • Council on Resources and Development (CORD)
    • Fosters interagency coordination and investigates natural resources development issues.
    • Participates and provides guidance relative to the statewide public access program.
    • Reviews and makes recommendations regarding the disposition of state-owned (waterfront) property.
  • Lakes Management Advisory Committee (LMAC)
    • Reviews and makes recommendations regarding the disposition of state-owned property adjacent to or providing access to a lake.
    • Advises the Lakes Management and Protection Program in carrying out its purposes to:
      • Compliment and reinforce existing state & federal water quality laws.
      • Maintain and enhance the scenic beauty & recreational potential of New Hampshire lakes.
      • Protect wildlife habitat around lakes.
      • Ensure opportunities for public enjoyment of New Hampshire lakes.
  • Public Water Access Advisory Board (PWAAB)
    • Advises, monitors and coordinates state agency public access efforts including the Statewide Public Access Program.
    • Reviews deposition of state-owned (waterfront) property.
  • Water Quality Standards Advisory Committee
    • Assists DES in drafting revised water quality regulations.
    • Facilitates public input, solicits advice and provides a forum for the discussion of focused water quality issues.

  The committees listed below do not have their own website. For more information go to http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/statstudcomm/ and enter the name of the committee as the "keyword".

  • Long Range Capital Planning and Resource Utilization Committee (LRCP&UC)
    • Continuously reviews all buildings and land presently owned by the state under consideration for disposal; including waterfront properties.
    • Reviews and approves deposition of state-owned (waterfront) property.
  • Water Resources Committee
    • Studies water resources in New Hampshire.
    • Annually reports its findings and recommendations for proposed legislation by November 1.
  • Winnipesaukee River Watershed Advisory Committee
    • Offers recommendations on the development and implementation of the DES water flow model.
    • Solicits input relative to the water flow model from residents of the Winnipesaukee River watershed area.
  • University of New Hampshire
    • Cooperative Extension
      • Lakes Lay Monitoring Program (LLMP)
      • Technical assistance on the use/purchasing of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides as well as agricultural BMPs and sustainable landscaping
      • Conservation and stewardship education and assistance
      • Assists landowners with the development of stewardship plans.
      • Works with communities on voluntary and regulatory water resources protection plans.
    • New Hampshire Water Resource Research Center
      • Funds and conducts water related research projects.
      • Educates the public on water issues (radon, groundwater, biosolids, septic systems, landfills etc.).
      • Trains future water professionals.
    • Center for Freshwater Biology
      • Lakes Lay Monitoring Program
      • Researches and monitors lake biotoxins.
      • Develops reports on lake water quality.
      • Provides training in aquaculture.
  • Plymouth State University
    • Center for the Environment
      • Engages local communities and organizations in environmental demonstration projects.
      • MS degree program in Environmental Science and Policy
      • Partnerships:
        • Several projects with DES, including regional lake water quality laboratory
        • Co-funding lake research associate position at Squam Lake Association (SLA)
        • Co-funding of hydrologist at PSU/Hubbard Brook
        • Several projects with White Mountain National Forest
        • Several projects with local communities
      • Maintains a research facility to facilitate student projects.
        • Focuses on applied field research.
      • Outreach and services:
        • Regional lake water quality laboratory
        • Newsletter
        • Outreach documents associated with research projects
        • Co-organizer of annual New Hampshire Water Conference beginning in 2007.