LSPA Watershed Wise Program

Do your part to protect streams, lakes and ponds—become a Watershed Wise partner with LSPA!

Program Description

LSPA’s Watershed Wise Program is an award-based program for property owners in the Lake Sunapee Watershed. The purpose of the program is to encourage good land stewardship practices that protect the water quality of streams, lakes and ponds within the Lake Sunapee Watershed. Good practices include, but are not limited to, erosion control, proper management of stormwater, proper septic system maintenance, preserving adequate waterfront conservation buffers, and reducing or eliminating road salt, fertilizer and herbicide/pesticide use. These practices will help maintain or improve the quality of our water resources and provide healthy habitats for aquatic species and wildlife. Click on the button below for practices you can implement on your property that reduce or eliminate pollutants from reaching our streams, lakes and ponds.

How to participate:

1. Complete the property owner self assessment to see how “watershed-friendly” your property is. Click here to access the self-assessment.

**For any self-assessments completed after September 15, we will probably not be able to assess the property until the spring of the following year.

2. Upon submittal of survey, LSPA will contact you to schedule an onsite evaluation of your property based on the zones listed below. We will provide a report that offers suggestions or advice on ways to make your property more watershed friendly.

3. If your property meets certain standards, you will be recognized by LSPA as a Watershed Wise Partner and receive an award sign if desired (see sign above) to display on your property. Sign will be marked for year award was given. If the criteria are not met, homeowners are provided with detailed recommendations about improvements that can be made to protect water quality.

Property Evaluation Zones:

I. Driveway & Parking: These areas whether paved or not shed stormwater and surface pollutants that can lead to downstream erosion and water pollution.

II. Buildings & Structures: Structures displace natural vegetation and shed rainfall which needs to be infiltrated into the ground and not diverted downstream where it can cause erosion. Onsite septic systems servicing living quarters need to be maintained just like above ground property or they will fail polluting groundwater, lakes, ponds & streams.

III. Recreational Spaces: This zone includes lawns, footpaths and other areas cleared of natural vegetation and used for recreational purposes. These spaces can contribute to water pollution, depending on how these spaces are used and maintained. In addition, lawn areas near waterways serve as safe grazing areas for some waterfowl such as geese that leave nutrient laden feces behind.

IV. Waterfront: Preserving a 50 feet or greater healthy buffer of native trees, shrubs, undergrowth and duff layer (undisturbed forest floor) is critical in preventing pollutants from reaching streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands. The waterfront buffer is the last defense in stopping migrating pollutants. Disturbing this area greatly increases the impact we have to our waterways.