[Lakegeezer]

Watershed research led by the Lake Winnipesaukee Association shows that big storms are the big problem. The damage is done in only 5-6 events a year, when gully-washers act like Mother Nature yanking a giant toilet handle. All the built-up gunk—leaky septics, phosphorus laden fertilizer, leaves, goose (and dog) poop and road salt flush downhill and straight into Lake Winnipesaukee.

Regulations can’t fix the problem – it has to be a community-wide project.

First step is to reduce the buildup by fixing septic systems, skipping the phosphorus fertilizer near the water, keeping 70% of shoreline properties porous and not cutting down trees that move over 100 gallons of water a day into the air.

But, the real solution is based in reducing storm-water runoff by convincing the those water gushes to absorb into the ground.

During the next gully-washer, toss on a raincoat and check the shoreline. If you see water racing to the lake, add a rain garden, small berm, or trench it into the woods so that it soaks in before reaching the lake.