Methodology and Prioritization Analysis for the Watershed

Planning in the Ossipee Lake Watershed

August 23, 2011

Early in 2011 the Green Mountain Conservation Group secured funding through the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) and the Envrionmental Protection Agency to begin creating a plan for how to best evaluate the Ossipee Watershed and develop a Watershed Master Plan.  The Ossipee Watershed , in the eastern part of New Hampshire’s Lakea Region, covers 242,000 acres and contains the largest stratified drift aquifer in New Hampshire.  This aquifer is the primary source of drinking water for this region and the watershed has significant natural and recreational resources that drive the local economy.

A consultant team including the firm Jeffrey H. Taylor and Associates, Plymouth State Universiaty and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests was hired in May of 2011 to prepare this Methodology and Prioritization Analysis for Watershed Planning in the Ossipee Lake Watershed.  The results of this effort are presented in this report and provide a framework for how best to proceed with this watershed planning effort in the Ossipee Watershed. 

This initial effort included reviewing existing water quality data collected by a variety of groups in the watershed, including the 10 years of data collected by the Green Mountain Conservation Group, indentification and analysis of the sub-watersheds, identification of missing data, and evaluation of the feasibility of phasing future watershed planning efforts.    read more

Green Mountain Conservation Group