Our association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of Great East Lake, its wildlife, and environment. We see education as a primary function of this organization.  Only through vigilant action and financial support can we hope to ensure that future generations will share the experience of stewardship for the treasure that is Great East Lake.

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Great East Lake Improvement Assoication

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Lakes Legislation Weekly - 9/16/09

The following was contributed by:  Jared A. Teutsch, President,
New Hampshire Lakes Association
3 Silk Farm Rd.,  Concord, NH 03301, (603) 226-0299
http://www.nhlakes.org/

The 2009 legislative session officially wrapped up after the first week of July.  In the end, NH LAKES’ legislative proposals were successful and added several much needed protections to our state’s public water bodies.

Restricting Phosphorus Levels in Automatic Dishwasher Detergents (HB 350) – signed into law!

  • Prohibits the sale and distribution of household cleaning products containing phosphorus, specifically targeting automatic dishwashing detergent for residential use.  Phosphorus has a significant detrimental impact to lakes, often acting as a fertilizer for aquatic vegetation, leading to overabundant plant and algal growth. Takes effect July 1, 2010 Low-phosphorus and phosphorus-free automatic residential dishwasher detergents are readily available today through most manufacturers.

 

Amendment That Increased Funding for Exotic Invasive Aquatic Weed Prevention & Control (HB 2)

  • Increased the registration fee charged by the state based on the length of the vessel. Allocates an additional $1.50 per boat registration to exotic invasive aquatic weed control and an additional $1 for exotic invasive aquatic weed prevention. Also increases the license fee from $4 to $12 and increases the registering agent fee from $1.50 to $5.

 

Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (SB 134) – signed into law!

  • Clarifies the reference line as the surface elevation on natural fresh water bodies and artificial impoundments listed in the Official List of Public Waters maintained by the NH Department of Environmental Services. Adds a reduced permit fee for projects that quality as a permit by notification.  Water quality improvement projects will be $100 and for all other permit by notification projects the fee will be $250.

 

Modify State-Owned Waterfront Leasing Policy (SB 107) – signed into law!

  • Increases the fee for leasing state-owned waterfront managed by the NH Department of Transportation Bureau of Rail and Transit from $25 per linear foot to $30, with a Consumer Price Index increase every five years. Additional changes would limit leasing to adjacent parcels that are developed for residential purposes only.  All undeveloped parcels after 2011 would not have an opportunity to lease adjacent state waterfront property.  These are needed policy changes that help protect and enhance our lakes and rivers.

Here is the link to our Annual Lake Issue Survey.  Please feel free to fill it out and either email your thoughts back to me or print it out and drop it in the mail:

 

I will continue to provide the link to your legislators: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg/


Thank you,

Jared A. Teutsch
President
NH LAKES
 
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