Phosphorous is a huge problem everywhere, and is sometimes fed by over-building. We have an ever-growing invasive weed problem here too, driven by phosphorus as well. But in most cases here, it's driven by wildlife and farmlands, and of course, some runoff.
The unfortunate part is that people have anti-people agendas that tend to preclude the research results. Proper sewage-treatment plants and runoff treatment plants could have been built many years ago, when it was affordable to do so. I've always contended that if these types of plants were funded in areas that need them, the "Net" costs wouldn't be so bad. The costs of cleanup and other economic impacts are very, very high, and could be mitigated if towns and counties were directed to do the right thing.
Reductions in fertilizer would help, as would better septic systems and the like. We have a problem of farmland and resulting runoff, plus the greatly enhanced population of waterfowl. Areas in bays where NWZ's have become more the norm are suffering as well from relative water stagnation.
It's not too late to keep Winnipesaukee clean. It's also not hard for the owners of huge waterfront houses to make sure their landscaping is not contributing to the problem, and that their septics are secure. DNA research is quite helpful in determining the real sources. IN our great Malletts Bay project, three times it was determined that after storms, it was wildlife and waterfowl that were the primary contributors. As one might suspect, nothing was done about this.
Help keep Winni clean before it becomes too big a job.
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