2020 Eastman Watershed Study

2020 Eastman Lake
Watershed Management Plan Summary
Developed for the Eastman Community Association

Executive summary
Together with the input from Eastman Community Association (ECA) staff and residents, the State of New Hampshire, the Regional Planning Commission, and other stakeholders, local knowledge of the watershed was coupled with previous studies, reports and available data to identify problems and look for possible pollution sources. The primary causes and sources of pollution identified fit into the following categories, listed in priority order of the positive impact possible from ECA staff and resident actions.

1. Erosion
2. De-icing chemicals
3. Residential septic systems/water softeners
4. Dust control chemicals

To address these four causes and sources of pollution, long-term and short-time preliminary goals were defined, with measurable guideposts along the way. Eastman Lake, particularly the high public use areas, are the most critical areas to protect. Because so much of the surface water enters Eastman Lake through Mill Pond, this area is the most critical in terms of proactively addressing water quality issues. Erosion in Stony Brook is the most critical point source of water quality pollution in the watershed and provides the opportunity for the most important potential project-level activity. Several management measures throughout the watershed were identified to achieve pollutant load reductions.