Madison—March 2, 2025—A neighboring lake association is seeking the approval of Madison voters to create a Watershed Management Plan.

Warrant Article 22, which will be up for a vote on Saturday, March 15, would authorize a study of the entire Madison portion of the Ossipee Watershed, including streams, brooks, the Chain of Ponds, Cooks Pond, and Silver Lake.

In coordination with town officials, Silver Lake Association of Madison, known as SLAM, applied for and received non-binding pre-approval for the town to borrow up to $100,000 from the New Hampshire Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

The loan will be forgiven when DES approves the study, and SLAM will pay the interest. As such, there will be no cost to the town and its taxpayers, according to the organization.

SLAM said higher temperatures and other weather extremes are among the reasons a plan is needed to assess risks and potential mitigation steps.

The group pointed to major rain events in 2023 as the genesis of cyanobacteria in Silver Lake, the result of chemicals, such as fertilizers, washing into the lake from runoff.

PFAS have also been found in town wells and around the Madison Fire Department, according to SLAM, which is also concerned about pollutants in lake sediment that are the legacy of the lead mine, lumber mill and other historical business operations.

SLAM says having a watershed management plan will enable the town to apply for additional state and federal funding, such as Watershed Assistance 319 grants, to help implement watershed conservation practices.

The Warrant Article has the unanimous support of the town’s Conservation Commission, Advisory Budget Committee and Select Board. If the measure passes, a steering committee will hire an environmental engineering firm with watershed expertise to conduct the study.

Information on the proposed initiative is on SLAM’s website at this link.