Water Quality

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The water quality of Province Lake has been under close watch for the past few years.  With such a shallow waterbody, low flushing rate, and high phosphorus concentrations, Province Lake has experienced repeat algal blooms in most years since 2010.  Province Lake is also listed on the NH Department of Environmental Services303(d) list for impaired waterbodies since 2010 and you can see the 2018 Report Card here.  This has lead to the development of a Watershed Management Plan that was completed in 2014.  The plan can be viewed by clicking here.

Please note that the NH DES is the responsible party for issuing cyanobacteria alerts and actions. As an educational and information organization, the PLA does not create or enforce any rules, codes, or laws. We strive to educate the users of Province Lake on current conditions. It is the responsibility of each lake user to make his/her own decision regarding utilization of the lake at any time. The PLA accepts no responsibility for conditions that cyanobacteria exposure may cause.

The Province Lake Association, with the Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance moved forward with 2 implementation grants to implement fixes to concern areas identified in the Watershed Management Plan.  The second grant was completed in 2019.

We encourage property owners, renters, and people who use the lakes assets to be mindful of fertilizer use, erosion from stormwater runoff, and where their pets go to the bathroom.  There are a lot of tools and tips to promote better water quality that can be found at the Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance website, Conservation Practices for Homeowners, Alternatives to Hazardous Chemicals, and Septic Systems.