CLPA Report on Windham BOS meeting: 1) Boat Ramp open/Public Hearing in Jan, 2) CHLORIDE levels/road treatment
We are happy to report that 6 of the CLPA Board of Directors attended the Windham Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Monday 8/27/18. We were there to show solidarity on two very crucial issues facing our community and lake.
First, and very important to residents of Salem, the Town Administrator, David Sullivan, reported that there will be:
NO CHANGE IN USE OF THE HAYES HART ROAD BOAT RAMP THIS FALL.
He said that the Windham BOS will hold a public hearing sometime in January regarding the policies related to the use of the Hayes Hart Road Boat Ramp. The extra time will allow all parties to seek legal counsel and work together to work for a mutual resolution.
The CLPA submitted a letter to the Windham BOS. Because they did not open the meeting for public input the letter was not read publicly but is part of their correspondence. (The copy of the letter below for your review.)
Second, and probably even more important, is the critical issue of the rise of chloride (salt) in both Canobie Lake and Cobbett’s Pond. In the last 4 years the amount of chloride in both lakes has doubled. If it doubles again it will be in the range that is determined to be fatal to plants and aquatic life. The Windham BOS heard from the Cobbett’s Pond Improvement Association, NH DOT, and NH DES. The letter (see below) from the CLPA Board was also read into the minutes.
We are happy to report that the Windham BOS voted in favor of requesting that the Cobbetts Pond Road and Range Road be treated with low salt. The request must also be signed by the Windham Fire Chief, Windham Police Chief, and Superintendent of Schools. This may be a tall order and leaves us with grave concern. How to combat this destructive condition seems undefined. Please continue to follow our newsletter with updates about what the CLPA is doing and what you can do to help reduce chloride.
Canobie Lake Protective Association
P O Box 627, Windham, NH 03087
www.CanobieLake.org
“Working to preserve & protect the Canobie Lake community”
Windham Board of Selectmen
3 North Lowell Road
Windham NH 03087
8/22/18
Dear Selectmen,
(The Canobie Lake Protective Association respectfully requests that you read this letter and include it into the minutes on the Windham BOS 8/27/18 meeting.)
We, the Canobie Lake Protective Association, represent all the lakefront residents of Canobie Lake and the other members of our association who share in our love of and mission of protecting Canobie Lake. We share a common respect for the use of this wonderful natural resource. We all, respectfully request, that you find a way to make it possible for the Windham and Salem lakefront residents and members of the CLPA be allowed to use the Hayes Hart Boat Ramp.
Many of the lakefront owners have boats that are launched in the spring and pulled out in the fall. The Hayes Hart Boat ramp has been the only ramp that has been used for years by residents all around the lake, be they from Salem or Windham. The limitation of use of the ramp to Windham residents only would create an unacceptable and divisive hardship.
The CLPA requests that the Board of Selectmen work with the Town’s attorney, the CLPA, and all interested parties to come up with an appropriate long-term resolution of this issue.
Respectfully submitted,
CLPA Board of Directors
Canobie Lake Protective Association
P O Box 627, Windham, NH 03087
www.CanobieLake.org
“Working to preserve & protect the Canobie Lake community”
Windham Board of Selectmen
3 North Lowell Road
Windham NH 03087
8/22/18
Dear Selectmen,
(The Canobie Lake Protective Association respectfully requests that you read this letter and include it in the minutes on the Windham BOS 8/27/18 meeting.)
We, the Canobie Lake Protective Association, have grave concern about the dramatic increase in chloride levels in Canobie Lake. It is our understanding that in northern NH, where road salt and parking lots are not an issue, the lakes have a chloride level that runs less than 10 mg/lt. For around 50 or more years Canobie Lake was at that level. Over the past 4 years it has drastically increased to over 100mg/lt. In fact The August 9th 2018DES lab report came back from a July 16th sampling with Chloride levels as high as 106 mg/L
The USA EPA standard for harm to fish and plants is 230mg/lt. However, Canada has set the level at 120 mg/lt. Canobie Lake is drastically close to that HARMFUL level. CLPA has addressed this issue with DES seeking insight to the rise. To date, there is no definitive answer as to why the drastic rise in chloride levels. It is generally believed that 75% of chloride is due to salting of roads and parking lots.
Chloride cannot be filtered out or removed from the water of Canobie Lake. It is the most drastic threat to the health of the lake and wildlife. Furthermore, it may be a threat to the health of Salem residents who rely on Canobie Lake for their drinking water.
As a result of our findings, we request that the Town of Windham work with the State of New Hampshire to select and designate roads within the watershed of both Cobbetts Pond and Canobie Lake as “Low Salt Zones”.
Respectfully submitted,
CLPA Board of Directors