Stewardship “in perpetuity,” the commitment land trusts make, means ongoing stewardship in the face of changing conditions!
Please join Chocorua Lake Conservancy on Saturday, August 17 at 4 PM at Runnells Hall in Chocorua for Ecosystem Restoration at Chocorua Lake, a presentation on two upcoming restoration projects on Chocorua Lake: stabilizing and restoring the eastern shoreline of the lake, and repairing the dam at the outflow of the lake with the addition of a rock ramp that will allow fish and other aquatic species to move upstream from the river to the lake, restoring the lake ecosystem.
The afternoon will include a short presentation and formal Q&A, followed by a social time with CLC staff and board members to ask additional questions. Beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, crackers and cheese, and other light appetizers will be provided.
In the early 2000s, Carroll County Conservation District awarded CLC a “Conservation Award of the Year” for its “Berms and Swales” project located between Route 16 and the eastern shoreline of Chocorua Lake. This project resulted in over 80 percent reduction in phosphorus runoff into the lake.
The shoreline of the Grove in 2007, before restoration.
The shoreline of the Grove in 2023, nearly a decade and a half after restoration.
Now, because of heavy visitor use—over 100,000 people visit Chocorua Lake every year—and the intense storm events that are more frequent as the climate changes, the eastern shoreline has experienced dramatic soil erosion, exposing tree roots and damaging trees. This puts the Chocorua Lake at risk once more for phosphorus-laden highway runoff during large storms, with attendant risks to water quality.
This September, CLC will begin restoration on 12,000 square feet of shoreline, stabilizing it and planting native trees, shrubs, and plants that filter highway runoff and protect lake water. A similar project was completed in the Grove at the southern end of Chocorua in 2009, to excellent effect. You can see the results with your own eyes when you visit.
CLC is planning repairs to the dam at the southern end of Chocorua Lake. The first dam was installed at the beginning of the 20th century to raise lake water so that swimmers would have easier access to water deep enough to swim, and so boaters could pass under the Narrows Bridge during dry summers. Deeper water helps keep water temperatures cooler and protects water quality, which is increasingly important as global and local temperatures rise. While the dam, which is slowly crumbling, is important for human enjoyment of the lake, adding a rock ramp will allow aquatic species to migrate from the Chocorua River into Chocorua Lake.
CLC has been in the planning and engineering stages of these two projects for a few years. Come learn about both projects, what they mean for Chocorua Lake and its ecosystem, and how you can help!
Please register in advance above so that we know how many people to expect.
Banner image: Erosion on the eastern shoreline.