Freedom—July 19, 2013—Questions about watershed planning for Danforth Pond and Ossipee Lake’s bays will be addressed at a public meeting on Wednesday, July 24th, from 6-8 p.m. at Freedom Town Hall. Ossipee Lake Alliance will sponsor the meeting with Green Mountain Conservation Commission. The goal of the watershed management planning project, which is being funded by the N.H. Department of Environmental Services, is to understand and project future nutrient loadings to the lake, set goals, and prioritize needs and methods that will allow for future growth and development while protecting the water quality. (Click here for a further description).

The project includes a significant education and outreach component to engage residents and decision-makers in watershed protection dialogue and activity. Among the questions that will be answered at the meeting are: What is Watershed Planning? Why do we need it? Who will it involve? Where will it take place? When will it take place? Will it affect my home or business?

An Ossipee Lake Watershed Management Committee has been established for the project, with Berry Bay resident and town planning professional Jean Marshall representing Ossipee Lake Alliance. Other members of the Committee include:

Scott Brooks; Freedom Road Agent and local septic contractor; Bob Craycraft, UNH Lakes Lay Monitoring Program limnologist; Anne Cunningham, Berry Bay Resident and Freedom Planning Board member; Pat Jones, Administrative Assistant, Ossipee Planning Board and Conservation Commission; Sheila Jones, Broad-Leavitt Bay Association Representative and Effingham resident; Barry Keith, Freedom Town Forester and Forestry Consultant; and Jody Skelton, Director of Camp Huckins.

Also: Peter Klose, GMCG board member and professional environmental consultant; Corey Lane, GMCG WMP Project Manager and Water Quality Monitoring Director; Jeff Marcoux, NH Department of Environmental Services, Watershed Assistance; Jim McElroy, Freedom Aquatic Weeds Control Committee and Conservation Commission member; Craig Niiler, Danforth Bay Resort/King Pine/ Purity Spring Resort representative; John Shipman, Ossipee Watershed Coalition and GMCG Research Committee; Tom Schevenell, GMCG Research Committee and Retired Hydogeologist; John Wacker, Tamworth Resident and Landscaper; and Paul Wheeler, REMAX realtor, outdoorsman, and former member of the Freedom ZBA and Planning Board.