The Town will be asking for a loan from the State to fund a watershed study for Pawtuckaway Lake but the loan principal will be forgiven when the watershed study is finished so the Town will not owe any money. All the interest that accrues during the term of the loan will be paid for by the PLIA.
Read the following paragraphs for additional information.
What Does it Mean?
The Warrant Article, if passed, allows the Town to apply for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan. The funds will ultimately be used to pay for an updated watershed plan for Pawtuckaway Lake. Even though the loan, if granted, will have the principal ultimately forgiven, state law requires that the Town must have the authority and ability to repay as if the loan were not going to be repaid. That is the reason why the Warrant Article mentions that the Town would be authorized to issue bonds to repay the principal of the loan even though it would not be needed in this case. The Warrant Article also states that the PLIA will pay any and all interest on the loan. It is estimated that the total interest would be around $1500-$2000. It also mentions, in addition to doing the watershed plan, the possibility of doing some mitigation actions. If done, these would be quite small activities, more in the nature of feasibility studies than the relatively major mitigation activities that might be specified in the watershed plan.
What is it For?
The PLIA would like to update our watershed plan which was last updated in 2008. While a watershed plan has many parts, in essence its purpose is to determine the factors which affect the health of a water body and recommend mitigation actions to improve it. While we have several reasons for wanting this update, the primary reason is to determine the factors which are leading to an increasing level of phosphrous in our lake. While any excess nutrients in the lake are a problem, phosphorous in particular, can lead to bigger and more frequent cyanobacteria blooms. We had two such blooms last summer leading to recommendations to stay out of the lake for periods of time since they can cause serious illness and possibly even death. With an updated plan we can understand the most effective mitigation actions and actually get a start on the major mitigation work.
Why a Loan?
Developing watershed plans is a complex activity and requires hiring experts to do the work in conjunction with information from local residents. The cost to update our plan is estimated to be between 65K and 100K. We hope to get the necessary funding from a federal program, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), which is administered separately by each state. In NH these loans have to be given to a town rather than a lake association or other non-governmental body.
How Does it Work?
As stated above, the way NH administers the program is to provide the loan to towns. These loans are like lines of credit in that interest accrues only as the money is requested by the town. When the purpose for the loan, namely an updated watershed plan, is complete, the Town informs the State that the loan should be closed. Having fulfilled the loan purpose, the State then forgives the principal. The net result is that the only thing that is owed to the State is the interest on the loan.
Summary
The Town will be asking for the money directly but the PLIA in consultation with the Town will engage a consultant to actually perform the work. The key here is that the Town is required by the terms of the loan program to be the middle man but the Town incurs no financial obligation other than a tiny amount of administrative work. Of course, none of this is a guarantee that we will qualify for the loan even if approved by the town voters. If the Warrant Article is approved, we will work with the Town to provide a pre-application to the State by May 31st. After a vetting process to determine loan candidates, the actual loan applications are due in the fall.
Roadside trash was no match for our intrepid volunteers who heeded the call for a Sunday morning clean up. This time they covered
a much longer than usual section of Route 156 armed with reflective vests, garbage bags, and steely determination.
go around.
The people who volunteer their time and energy to fulfill the mission of the Pawtuckaway Lake 
Improvement Association are worth their weight in gold. To thank them for their invaluable service, a cookout was held in their honor at the State Park Pavilion on Sunday September 22. Thankfully, the weather cooperated to welcome them to the event.
Our volunteers work as Lake
Hosts, milfoil divers and support kayakers, weed watchers, road litter collectors, fundraisers, island adopters, public outreach organizers, and neighborhood road representatives. The work of the PLIA is widespread and time-consuming, and these folks make it happen!
So if you see a volunteer on the lake performing any of these activities, give them a big thank you!
If you do suspect a cyanobacteria bloom, PLEASE report it to NHDES online, at: 
Mother Nature outdid herself and participants took advantage of the sunny, blue skies as they paddled to five different stations around the lake on Saturday, September 14. 
At each station they were greeted by hosts on a dock or beach or even pontoon boat with refreshments and a playing card to add to their growing poker hand. Some groaned at their bad luck while others exulted in their good fortune. Since there would be prizes for both best and worst hands, the tension built with every card selected.
After all stations had been visited, 
paddlers beached their watercraft at the last stop, where they could compare their hands with others, buy additional cards, choose where to deposit their raffle tickets, and generally socialize while enjoying an array of snacks.
Organizer Shelly Heit welcomed the crowd and thanked
the event sponsor Mountain Road Trading Post. She then introduced the station hosts: Mark and Michele Lefebvre, Bob and Karen Given, Catherine and Roger Frieden, Bill and Ann Noeth, Sue and Mike Herron, and Barb Thompson. She also acknowledged the wide array of raffle prize donors, the biggest number in the Tournament’s history.
Milfoil Dive Coordinator Bob Given gave a brief talk on the status of milfoil in the lake with a summary of recent finds and extractions. Since extensive eradication efforts last summer paid for by a grant from NHDES, milfoil infestations have been drastically reduced. This plant is persistent, however. He stressed the need for more volunteer search divers to look for milfoil plants and explained the process. He also urged volunteers to consider becoming certified as Weed Control Divers.
Next it was time for Mark Lefebvre to announce the results of the poker tournament. The three winners of high-scoring poker hands were (1) Mary Beeman, (2) Mitch Hale, and (3) Mark Wageling. Lowest hand was held by Tom Duffy, who gamely accepted his consolation prize.
most going to an assortment of very happy winners.
There were smiles all around as people made their way back home after a delightful afternoon of good company, fun, and games. And most important, the PLIA was a winner with $2,000 raised from the event.
C. Wayne Ives, P.G., Hydrogeologist and Instream Specialist of NH DES has just announced a press release that Pawtuckaway Lake will be drawn down to 4.8 feet starting on October 14, 2024.
Sponsored by the Mountain Road Trading Post
Details: Participants will visit 5 locations on the lake (a combination of docks and pontoon boats) to choose a playing card and enjoy a drink/snack. Once all 5 playing cards have been collected, you’ll proceed to the final location for the after-party and prizes for the top 3 hands ($150, $100, $50) and the lowest hand ($50). Can’t make it to all 5 stations by 4pm? Don’t worry – choose the missing cards at the after-party!
This year the Boat Parade was a riot of color 
and themes! There seemed to be more decorated boats than ever (did anyone manage a head – er – boat count?)
cream truck, flames, undersea 
creatures, mushrooms, love, ice hockey, water gun Olympics, bubble bath, alien invasions, flamingo, antique boat, and Legos also made an appearance. Not to mention plenty of good old-fashioned Stars and Stripes!
Water blasters were in great 
abundance and participants cooled off from the hot weather by directing streams of water at each other. Responses to water cannons on board came from all directions, including a powerful challenge launched by “spectators” on docks and rafts around the lake.
members have been collected and posted here for your enjoyment. You can also look at this and past years’ boat parade photos on this website, 
We were joined by State Representative Hal Rafter, State Park Manager Dave Richardson, Nottingham Budget Committee member Charlotte Fyfe, and Nottingham Board of Selectmen member John Morin.
A large group gathered inside the Pavilion 
to schmooze and listen. There was a spillover crowd enjoying the sun outdoors.
PLIA President Steve Soreff opened the meeting with an introduction of Board members and a farewell to departing Board member Peter White, who has served for many years as the Chair of the Road Clean Up Committee and will be missed. He then called for a vote for the slate of nominees to the Board, including member Gary Potavin who has volunteered to join the Board. PLIA members voted unanimously for the nominees.
Steve then reviewed the work of the organization last year, which included two victorious campaigns: (1) eradicate milfoil in the lake and (2) persuade the State to expend ARPA funds on infrastructure like bath houses and septic systems rather than on the construction of 35 new RV campsites along the shorefront. He noted that it was the support and participation of PLIA members that brought each of these efforts to a successful conclusion.
eradication of this invasive weed last year, it would be necessary to search for and remove new or recurring milfoil growths this summer. This work has already begun, and he invited additional Weed Control Divers to join his team. He also mentioned the presence of other invasive species threatening NH lakes and acknowledged the importance of Weed Watchers and Lake Hosts as early detection agents crucial to our overall mission.
Next it was Bruce Henden’s turn to summarize the work of the Lake Host Program which he coordinates and manages. It is designed to provide courtesy boat inspections and public education about 0063 aquatic invasive species. He explained the need for one more Lake Host to cover Saturday afternoons at the Fundy boat ramp and acknowledged that finding people to fill these paid positions has been challenging. Bruce listed invasive species that are becoming greater threats to Pawtuckaway and urged fishermen and boaters to learn about them. Finally, he brought NH LAKES LakeSmart pamphlets to share with everyone at the meeting to explain how property management affects nutrients that enter the lake and enhance growth of all aquatic species.
our email news blasts to provide their email address so they can be added to our contact list. She emphasized that storm runoff is a major source of pollutants in our lake water and urged the audience to enroll in the LakeSmart Program mentioned by Bruce. All Board members have pledged to get an evaluation of their property through this Program to discover how they can make improvements to prevent runoff. It is free, confidential, and enormously helpful in making us all lake-friendly. Already, 30 Pawtuckaway households have signed up! Finally, she offered signs provided by the State Park to be posted on islands reminding visitors that no campfires are allowed.
Shelly Heit, Membership Chair, explained our new online payment platform that is replacing PayPal for donations and sales of tickets or participation in various events. She has volunteered to expand her responsibilities, introducing and assuming the new Board position of Fundraising Chair. Her project to create playing
cards adorned with photos of the lake taken by members proved very successful. Packs of these cards were available to pick up at the meeting or later, at the Mountain Road Trading Post. They would also be for sale at the Trading Post and the State Park 
Camp Store. Shelly is organizing this year’s Paddle Poker Tournament, with the help of members Michele Lefebvre and Barb Thompson. Finally, she announced a new event to be held on the lake in late July – an open-air concert for the benefit of any and all boaters, suggested by our newest Board member Gary Potavin. She distributed flyers for the concert to all who might be interested.
to member Barb Thomson, for her extraordinary contributions to the PLIA. Barb initiated the Paddle Poker Tournament several years ago and was its organizing genius and booster, 
raising thousands of dollars every year. She is also a tireless member of the Milfoil Team, coordinating kayak support for milfoil extractions and often providing that support herself for last minute dives.
entitled “Lake-friendly Living at Pawtuckaway: Protect the Lake You Love”. She explained that cyanobacteria in particular thrive on sunshine, warm temperatures, and nutrients in lake water. Of these three, the only one we have the capacity to affect is the last one. Nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen wash into the lake almost exclusively through stormwater runoff. Another harmful effect of runoff is soil erosion into the lake.
the perfect agents to filter out nutrients carried by stormwater. Rain gardens capture runoff as well. Certain grasses and soil coverings are better for capturing nutrients. Paths and driveways can be modified to allow water to drain into the subsoil rather than flow directly into the lake. And of course, septic systems can be pumped every three years and inspected for proper functioning.
already mentioned earlier. These are comprehensive complimentary programs designed to help homeowners ensure their property is as lake-friendly as possible.
The meeting adjourned at 11:50 AM, right on time!