First Cyanobacteria Warnings of 2024 Issued for Lake Winnipesaukee

[Descant]

Originally Posted by ITD

Lawns on Winnipesaukee have been around for a long, long time. What do you suppose has changed in the last 10 to 15 years that might be contributing to this issue?

1. More dense development. Years ago, only shorefront was developed. Now, there is full development three and more levels back. We have a better knowledge of the effects of storm water runoff, but the over development has already been done. The Winnipesaukee River sewer program (1970's) made a big step forward, but it mostly covers the western side of the lake. Similar projects would help smaller lakes, and the east side, but Fed $$ is gone.

2. Contamination and eutrophication are slow and cumulative, followed by more and better testing. So things were happening some decades ago, but we just didn't have the same awareness.

3. Are the geese a part of the problem? Not many geese around 10-15 years ago.

[ITD]

What about higher lake levels, especially over the last few years and bigger wakes?

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Descant

1. More dense development. Years ago, only shorefront was developed. Now, there is full development three and more levels back. We have a better knowledge of the effects of storm water runoff, but the over development has already been done. The Winnipesaukee River sewer program (1970's) made a big step forward, but it mostly covers the western side of the lake. Similar projects would help smaller lakes, and the east side, but Fed $$ is gone.

2. Contamination and eutrophication are slow and cumulative, followed by more and better testing. So things were happening some decades ago, but we just didn't have the same awareness.

3. Are the geese a part of the problem? Not many geese around 10-15 years ago.

Every season, I hear chainsaws and chippers behind the front row of shorefront development but can't see them. The latest chipper was working real hard on some seriously large trees.

I have a 2001 document that says this lot (my neighbor's) shouldn't be built on. There's a cluster of Maples on that lot that have exposed roots like Miami Banyan Trees! The two lawyers arranged to share their neighbor's septic leach field and, after moving in, converted a garage to a bedroom. (!)

When gentle breezes come from the west, some days the air is distinctly aromatic. The Health Department has twice found no violations so I'm wondering if today's standard NH leach field designs (copied from Massachusetts' designs) are outdated.

A friend's house in Winter Harbor's steep Port Wedeln regularly suffered leach field exposures--mostly flooding from a neighbor's lot uphill. His place was sold recently, but unsure at this date if the rain-flooding issue was completely addressed.

This site says a leach field that is older than 50 years should be replaced:

Drain Field Age
While a properly maintained drain field is designed to last up to 50 years, it’s not likely that it will last much longer than that. If you’re experiencing symptoms of drain field failure and you know that your drain field is getting up there in age, it might be wise to begin to budget for a drain field replacement.

https://www.angi.com/articles/what-is-drain-field.htm