The AWWA Watersheds

The Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA) is a non-profit organization formed in 2005 to protect and improve water quality in the lakes and streams in the Acton, ME, Wakefield, NH border region and ultimately in the rivers, estuaries and bays into which they flow. The Alliance is registered with the State of New Hampshire and holds 501(c)3 status. AWWA has active directors and officers who bring a wide range of expertise and affiliations to the group. Local lake associations are represented on the board and members have expertise in engineering, water resource management, environmental education, computer programming, volunteer management, office management, and construction and landscaping.

The AWWA region includes the watersheds of Province Lake, Belleau Lake, Balch Lake, Pine River Pond, Sandy Pond, Woodman Lake (Saco River watershed) Lake Ivanhoe, Great East Lake, Horn Pond, Wilson Lake, Lovell Lake (Salmon Falls River watershed) and their tributaries.

Province Lake flows into the South River and joins the Ossipee River near Porter, Maine. Pine River Pond flows into the Pine River which feeds Ossipee Lake and then the Ossipee River. Belleau Lake, Woodman Lake and Sandy Pond flow into Balch Lake to form the headwaters of the Little Ossipee River. The Ossipee and Little Ossipee rivers flow to the Gulf of Maine via the Saco River.

Great East Lake, Horn Pond, Lake Ivanhoe, and Wilson Lake form the headwaters of the Salmon Falls River which defines the border between Maine and New Hampshire from Great East Lake to its confluence with the Cocheco River. Lovell Lake feeds the Branch River which flows into Milton Three Ponds where it joins the Salmon Falls. When the Salmon Falls River joins the Cocheco River they form the Piscataqua River, defining the state border to the Gulf of Maine. The AWWA watersheds cover approximately 55 square miles primarily within Acton and Wakefield but reaching into Parsonfield and Newfield, ME and Effingham, Wolfeboro and Brookfield, NH.

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is the geographic region within which water drains into a particular river, stream, lake or ocean. A watershed includes hills, lowlands, and the body of water into which the land drains. As the rain falls or snow melts water travels across the land and is affected by all that it contacts, picking up sediments and other pollutants. Remember - what we do on land affects the quality of the water in our streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and ultimately the estuaries and ocean.

What is the threat?

The waters of the AWWA region provide wildlife habitat; recreational opportunities including fishing, swimming, boating; and significant revenue from tourism and property taxes. Residents in both Acton and Wakefield indicate that they value the rural beauty and way of life enhanced by the region’s many lakes and ponds. Today the water quality in all our lakes and ponds is above average. As we face the inevitable pressures of growth it is important to look forward to protect our precious resources as the communities face the challenges of balancing development and preservation.

The NH Department of Environmental Services and the ME Department of Environmental Protection site erosion as the number one threat to the water quality of our lakes and ponds. Polluted runoff (called non-point source pollution) carry pollutants including sediments, excess nutrients (fertilizers, failing septic systems, pet waste), salt, pathogens and toxic contaminents.

As the watersheds are developed, erosion from disturbed areas increases the potential for water quality decline. The region is growing! In 2007, the NH Office of Energy and Planning projected a 36% population growth in Wakefield between 2005 to 2025. A report prepared by the NH Society for the Protection of NH Forests “New Hampshire’s Changing Landscape” projected a decrease in over 1,000 acres or 5.4% of forest land.

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Problems caused by sediments carried into waters by water or wind include:

Lower Property Values. Property values may decline when a lake, pond or stream fills with sediment. Shallow areas encourage weed growth and create boating hazards. Studies show that a 3′ decline in water clarity can result in up to 20% decline in shorefront property values.
Poor Fishing. Muddy water drives away fish who rely on their eyesight to see food, it covers gravel beds where fish spawn, smothers microscopic organisms that the fish eat and it may damage fish gills.
Nuisance Growth of Weeds and Algae. Sediment carries nutrients that feed algae and aquatic weeds, and potentially provide a surface for invasive species to grow.
Loss of Toursim. Muddy lakes or ponds, with higher weed coverage, are not attractive to fisherman, boaters, swimmers and tourists. This can impact all businesses as well as land values in a region.
Local Tax Impacts. Cleaning up sediment in streets, sewers and ditches, or removing invasive species or weeds can be very expensive to local towns.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

AWWA’s efforts are focused on keeping the treasured waters of the region as healthy as possible.

How does AWWA help?

The AWWA Youth Conservation Corps began tackling small scale erosion problems in 2006. By the end of the 2008 season they had worked at 45 project sites installing 135 Best Management Practices (BMPs). The AWWA Technical Director provided an additional 87 site-specific technical assistance designs.

In 2008 AWWA was awarded a NH DES Watershed Assistance grant to develop a watershed-based management plan for the headwaters of the Salmon Falls River. The WBMP will describe the present conditions, predict future conditions and offer recommendations to preserve the high quality water status of all the lakes and ponds of the region. This two-year project will include analysis of all water quality data, on-the-ground volunteer watershed surveys, review of all existing regulations and Master Plans, and land use modeling. It is AWWA’s intention to provide the communities, lake associations and other stakeholder groups with a useful, timely and relevant tool to prevent degradation of the water quality and to protect property values.

AWWA partners with local, state and regional agencies to learn about watershed protection and develop strategies for fixing existing problems and planning for the prevention of future problems. AWWA’s Board of Directors and staff are actively engaged in enriching their understanding and knowledge about issues facing the watershed communities.

AWWA is committed to spreading the word about watershed protection and how YOU can help reduce the effects of erosion and other non-point source pollution. Explore the website and don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance, with concerns or suggestions.