GRANT APPROVED TO PROTECT PROVINCE LAKE WATER QUALITY

Hi all,
The Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA) and Province Lake Association have successfully applied for and received another New Hampshire 319 Grant to help protect the water quality of Province Lake. Section 319 of the Clean Water Act allows the EPA to grant funds to states and local organizations to maintain clean and healthy water bodies, or address specific water quality issues. As a local organization with a full-time technical staff, AWWA acquires these grants on behalf of local lake associations, and helps to implement projects on the lake.
This 319 grant funds a variety of water quality projects and programs. First, if you are experiencing erosion on your lakefront property, AWWA will conduct a free site visit and develop a landscape plan to address erosion. The grant provides funding for AWWA’s Youth Conservation Corps to install stormwater landscape designs on lakefront properties. Homeowners need only purchase the required materials and the labor is free. This is an affordable, lake-friendly landscaping alternative that benefits the lake and protects your shoreline.
This grant also includes a septic system cost-share replacement program. Old and undersized septic systems are a major source of Phosphorus in the lake. If you think your septic system needs replacement call AWWA or visit their website to apply for cost-share funding. Four homeowners will receive up to $4,600 each to be used toward their septic system replacements. These are prioritized based on water quality impact and first come first served so please apply today or call AWWA to see if you qualify.

AWWA Contact Info:
(p) 603 473 2500
(e) info@awwatersheds.org

Annual Beach Clean Up Scheduled

Our sixth annual Province Lake Beach Cleanup will take place on Saturday, September 7 starting at 9am.
If you have an hour or so, please join your lake neighbors and help cleanup the Rte 153 beach area (rain or shine). We will meet near the entrance to the Donville Campground on Rte 153. Gloves and bags will be provided. Just bring yourself and the desire to help beautify our lakeshore. We hope to see you there.
Many thanks.
The PLA

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BEACH CLEAN UP AND MORE.

Even though we have weeks left of this beautiful summer to enjoy the end of summer will be here before we know it.
Now is the time to save the dates of two great volunteer projects which will make the drive along the beach more scenic AND reduce pollution caused by runoff.
                                            The Fifth Annual Province Lake Beach Cleanup
                                                    Saturday, August 25th, starting at 9 am
 
     If you have an hour or so you can join your lake neighbors and help cleanup the beach area. Meet us near the  entrance to the Donville Campground on Rt 153. Gloves and bags will be provided.

The AWWA Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is looking for volunteers to help extend their erosion control project on the Rt 153 beach August 13-16th, 9:30 – 2:00
     If you enjoy planting this is the project for you. The YCC crew will be planting 100-150 ft of buffer along the beach.
     Stay as long as you can or as little as you can, extra hands would be appreciated. Bring gardening tools and  gloves.
     For further information contact Amy Arsenault at amy.arsenault@awwatersheds.org
 
   Just a reminder, please do not park on the beach side of the road as this has a negative impact on the lake.
 
As always, thank you for your ongoing interest in and support of the health of Province Lake.

3rd Annual Beach Clean Up a Success!

On Saturday the 27th of August 14 PLA members and Board members walked the length of Rte 153 and picked up garbage.  The results were as follows:

Participants:
14 people for 2 hours

7 Board members and family:
Lorie Dunne
Jon Samuelson
Mindy Schuman Vye
Tucker Vye
Thom Townsend
Jan Townsend
Pete Dinger

7 PLA members and supporters:
Pat Benzing
Noel Cartwright
Shirley Cartwright
Larry Moody
Neil Rowe
Judy Skog
Larry Skog

Trash collected:
16 bags plus loose items
147 pounds
400 + pounds of broken cement blocks

Estimated total pounds 547

IMG_1412 IMG_0030IMG_0039

Some Beauty on the Beach as the Trash was Collected

Some Beauty on the Beach as the Trash was Collected

Free Septic Evaluations!

Do you have problems or concerns relative to your septic system? As part of PLA’s ongoing work to reduce the amount of phosphorus and other pollutants flowing into Province Lake, funds are available through the NHDES grant awarded to the Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA) to conduct evaluations of septic systems around the lake.

These evaluations are totally free to the property owner. The evaluation will provide information to the owner as to what is necessary to make the system function in an effective and environmentally friendly manner.

Once a problem is defined, up to $3000 may be available to remediate the problem next year.

These evaluations must be conducted before the ground freezes or after the spring thaw. There is no need to be present when the evaluation is conducted. Only six more evaluations are available.

If you would like your property to be considered, please contact AWWA at 603/473-2500 or info@AWwatersheds.org to see if you qualify.

RFQ for Shoreline Restoration and Stormwater Managment

The Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance requests qualifications for consultants to assist with the following project:

Province Lake Watershed Management Plan Implementation Phase 1 – Residential Shoreline Restoration & Stormwater Management.

To download the RFQ, click here:AWWA PL Landscape Design RFQ July 2015

Response Due Date: RFQ Responses are due by 2:00 pm on, July 17, 2015  to Linda Schier, Executive Director, info@AWwatersheds.org

LANDSCAPING FOR HEALTHY LAKES – JUNE 27

unnamedHi Everyone,Do you love our LAKE? Of course you do.

Would you like to learn how to improve lake water quality while beautifying your property? Sounds like a WIN-WIN.

How about getting a free lunch with that?
OK – I will tell you how………………

AWWA is conducting a  “Landscaping for Healthy Lakes” workshop on June 27th!
All are welcome to join in for this hands-on workshop in which you will learn how to plan and build simple rain gardens that will help prevent sediment from entering our lake. This event will be held at the Greater Wakefield Resource Center (254 Main St., Union, NH). The added benefit will be improving the senior center with some attractive landscaping! Springvale Nurseries will be bringing lots of low-maintenance, native plants and sharing their knowledge about which plants are suitable for various conditions around our lake. The workshop will begin at 9 AM and end with lunch for those who RSVP by June 24th.
I hope to see you there!
Pete Dinger
PLA President and AWWA Director

 

Septic Evaluation of Septic Risk – RFQ

Septic Evaluation of Septic Risk to Province Lake RFQ

The Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA) has been awarded funding from NHDES, through a grant from Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, for implementation of the “Province Lake Watershed Management Plan Implementation Phase 1: Addressing High Priority Actions and Building Local Capacity” project. Province Lake lies in Wakefield and Effingham, NH and Parsonsfield, ME and is listed on the NHDES 303(d) list as impaired for Aquatic Life Use due to high levels of phosphorus and chlorophyll-a and for Primary Contact Recreation due to recurring cyanobacteria blooms.

AWWA invites interested contractors to submit qualifications for the development of the “Evaluation of Septic System Risk to Province Lake” program. The selected consultant will work closely with AWWA, the Province Lake Association, NHDES and other project stakeholders to evaluate high risk septic systems within the Province Lake watershed. 

For the full project description and to download the RFQ, please visit: Evaluation of Septic System Risk to Province Lake RFQ 2015