Information on the Watershed Grant and
the Projects
Please click on the following links
to learn about each part of the grant project
Washington
Public Works Department Project - drainage and settling pond
Pond Project - swans, signage and water testing
Farm
Projects - fencing, alternative watering sites and bridges
This watershed grant was secured by a group of residents of
East Washington, working with Ed Thayer and the Washington Public
Works Department and many other town boards.
The Mill Pond in East Washington has always been a special gathering
place for neighbors and the swimming beach and picnic area is
enjoyed by all. It is a picturesque spot that stops many people
driving through our valley. The view of Lovell Mountain from
the beach area is appreciated by all who stop and take a moment
to look. It is the heart of East Washington village.
In the fall of 2006, the Department of Environmental Services
(DES) did a study of the Mill Pond in East Washington to try
to pinpoint the cause of frequent pond and beach closures during
the summer months.
Amy Smagula, from DES, came out and took samples from the pond
and also upstream on both the Woodward and Purling Beck brooks.
These samples were rybotyped and a comprehensive report was
written to explain what they found as the causes of the high
bacteria counts found in the pond. This report was entitled:
"Total Maximum Daily Load Study for Bacteria in Mill Pond Town
Beach, Washington, NH; State of New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services; Water Division, Watershed Management
Bureau; August 2006" and is available to the public in the selectmen's
office at the Town Hall.
Eric Williams, a planner from DES, came to the Grange Hall in
the spring of 2007 to present the study's findings and speak
to interested people from East Washington and the town. He mentioned
that the state had money available in the form of Watershed
Restoration Grants for Impaired Waters, to help communties work
toward managing nonpoint source pollution in their watershed.
He felt that a project to improve the pond was well worth pursuing.
A grant proposal was written for a project that was comprised
of 3 separate but equally important parts, with the aim of positively
impacting the health of the pond. The grant proposal survived
3 competitive rounds and was fully funded by the state in May
2008.
For more information on the three parts of the watershed project
click on the individual links found above.
We see this project as a catalyst to work on raising awareness,
town-wide, of watershed and storm water runoff issues and provide
people with solutions, in the hope that each homeowner or animal
caretaker could use better practices to contribute to the health
of all our town's lakes and ponds. Washington is a town with
abundant water and a public in need of education about the issues
affecting those water bodies.
Watch for announcements for informational meetings that will
take place in the spring and summer of 2008.
Please keep checking back here for information about this important
project as it progresses during the summer of 2008.
Some Frequently asked Questions
If you don't find your question
here look in each part of the grant project above or send
us an email for answers
What is a watershed?
A watershed is a geographic area in which all water drains
to a given stream, lake, wetland, estuary, or ocean. Our landscape
is made up of many interconnected watersheds. The boundary
between watersheds is defined by the line that connects the
highest elevations around the waterbodies. Within every watershed,
water runs to the lowest point on that landscape - a stream,
river, lake, estuary, or ocean. On its way, the water travels
across farm fields, forestland, parking lots, highways, city
streets, and backyards. You, and everyone in your watershed,
use and impact the same water supply. You are part of one
watershed community. In East Washington the watershed all
flows into Mill Pond. If you fertilize your lawn or keep animals
the run off from these activities will end up in the pond.
What is nonpoint source pollution?
Nonpoint source pollution occurs when rainfall, snowmelt,
or irrigation runs over land or through the ground, picks
up pollutants, and deposits them into rivers, lakes, and coastal
waters or introduces them into the groundwater. These pollutants
can include oil and sand from roadways, agricultural chemicals
from farmland, sediments from construction sties, crop and
forest lands and eroding streambanks, and nutrients and toxic
materials from urban, suburban and rural areas.
Why are there swans in the Mill Pond?
Three swan decoys have been installed in the Mill Pond to
attempt to discourage any wild Canada geese from staying and
nesting in the pond for the summer. The geese are a source
of bacteria in the pond because they defecate in the water
and on the beach and in the picnic area.The average goose
will produce one pound of droppings a day! If you see geese
in the pond please don't encourage them to stay by feeding
them. Also, please don't mess with the swans, they are doing
an important job in the pond. See the Pond Project link (above)
for more information.
Funding for this project was provided in part by a Watershed Assistance
Grant from the NH Department of Environmental Services with funding from
the US Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean
Water Act.
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