Freedom–May 27, 2015–The Ossipee Watershed Management Plan Phase II kick-off community gathering will take place on Saturday, June 6, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Totem Pole Park in Freedom.  Hosted by Green Mountain Conservation Group (GMCG), this is an opportunity to learn about the ongoing water quality research and management plan for the Ossipee Watershed.

The surface and ground water within the watershed is shared by 14 towns with a population of over 12,000 residents, including the towns of Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Ossipee, Tamworth and Sandwich. Forrest Bell, the owner and senior project manager for FB Environmental Associates, will present the findings of water quality from the Phase I: Ossipee Lake Lower Bays Watershed Management Plan and discuss plans for the upcoming project for Phase II: Ossipee Lake, which will take place from 2015 through 2016.

Understanding the interactions between the Ossipee Lake system and its watershed is important in planning for the protection of one of New Hampshire’s largest oligotrophic (healthy) lakes well into the future. With the changing climate, which includes more frequent and heavier rain events, GMCG will also give an introduction to the Soak Up the Rain (SOAK) program which assists landowners with improving their properties by installing rain gardens, infiltration steps, and many other best management practices. These practices help prevent stormwater runoff from entering the lake and bays, which the Environmental Protection Agency says are the biggest contributors to water quality issues in all 50 states.

Pre-register for this free event by sending an email to info@gmcg.org or calling (603) 539-1859. Totem Pole Park is located at 4 Totem Pole Road, which is off of Pequawket Road in Freedom. Light refreshments will be offered.

Funding is provided through a Watershed Assistance Grant from the N.H. Department of Environmental Services with Clean Water Act Section 319 funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and GMCG.