Watershed Management Bureau

  Lakes Management and Protection

    Lakes Management Advisory Committee

The Lakes Management Advisory Committee (LMAC) meets eight to ten times a year to discuss and advise the Lakes Management and Protection Program. In its 13-year history, LMAC has created the Comprehensive Lake Inventory community planning tool and developed statewide lakes management criteria for state agencies. LMAC has also taken positions on dozens of pieces of legislation and become educated on numerous lake-related topics. In addition, LMAC is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on plans to dispose of state-owned property adjacent to or providing access to a lake.

LMAC has 18 members, including representatives from state agencies, municipalities, the conservation community, academia, and the marine, tourism, and real estate businesses. RSA 483-A:6 outlines the responsibilities and membership terms.

Following are initiatives and projects of the LMAC.

Comprehensive Lake Inventory

LMAC completed the Comprehensive Lake Inventory (CLI) in 2007. It is a tool for laypeople to help assess lakes and their surrounding watersheds. The inventory asks 94 questions based on ten major attributes to guide the assessment process. To request a hard copy, please contact the Lakes Program at (603) 271-2959 or jcolburn@des.state.nh.us.

Lakes Management Criteria for New Hampshire State Agencies

LMAC worked together for three years to develop statewide lakes management criteria, which culminated in the 1996 publication, Lakes Management Criteria for New Hampshire State Agencies. LMAC reviewed and assessed all state agencies and policies under the guidelines set forth in RSA 483-A. Approximately 100 recommendations were made to improve lakes management and water quality. Recommendations were separated into categories of tasks that could be done with funding, without funding, and through legislation. Each recommendation also included a timeframe, and many of the recommendations have been implemented. To request a hard copy, contact the Public Information Center at (603) 271-2975, or pip@des.state.nh.us.

Site Visits

LMAC visits at least one lake each year to discuss site-specific characteristics and management issues, such as invasive species and safety among multi-users. Past visits have included Beaver Lake in Derry (2000), Pawtuckaway Lake in Nottingham (2001), and Loon Pond in the White Mountain National Forest (2003).

Surplus Land Review

Under the Lakes Management and Protection Act, specifically 483-A:5 II, "No state-owned property adjacent to or providing access to a lake shall be disposed of by the state except upon the review and recommendations of the advisory committee." LMAC thus reviews all proposals to dispose of state-owned property that is adjacent to or provides access to any lake and makes a recommendation to the Council on Resources and Development (CORD) regarding whether the property should be disposed. The term "disposal" can refer to the transfer of land ownership, i.e, fee simple acquisition; transfer of right-of-way, transfer of easement terms, e.g., conservation, utility easements; lease of land; or any other means that alters the status of ownership.

Sustainability Initiative

The LMAC and the Rivers Management Advisory Committee (RMAC) are concerned that even with present programs and despite more than three decades of work, our water resources will deteriorate under current efforts.  The Sustainability Initiative and associated Appendix will develop environmental and programmatic indicators and recommendations to address eight key issues.  These include: 1) lack of data and improve data access and management by data users, 2) lack of a coordinated approach, 3) protect shorelands and riparian buffers, 4) limit impacts to water quality and quantity for urbanization and watershed development, 5) determine carrying capacity, 6) control invasive aquatic species, 7) consumptive uses of surface and groundwater, and 8) address climate change impacts.  The LMAC and RMAC will work with DES staff and other appropriate parties to develop indicators and recommendations for three of the key areas by September 2008.

Education

LMAC members have educated themselves on topics ranging from malformed frogs to instream waterflow regulations, and have used the knowledge to make informed decisions on lake management and water quality.