Watershed Management Plan

Overview
Lake Monomonac is one of the region’s most treasured natural resources. It provides recreation, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and a strong sense of community for the many people who enjoy it throughout the year.

Like many lakes across New England, however, Monomonac is showing signs of increasing stress. Cyanobacteria blooms, declining water clarity, elevated nutrient levels, and oxygen depletion in deeper waters are signals that the lake is under pressure. The good news is that these challenges are not the result of a single catastrophic problem, but rather the cumulative impact of many smaller, correctable issues.

To better understand these issues and identify solutions, MLPOA, WSLA, NH DES, and FB Environmental are developing a comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (WMP). Through water quality monitoring, shoreline assessments, watershed analysis, septic system surveys, and other scientific studies, the WMP is helping us understand where pollutants are entering the lake and which actions will have the greatest impact.

Perhaps the most encouraging finding to date is that the sources of many water quality concerns are identifiable, concentrated, and manageable. A relatively small number of shoreline areas and drainage sites account for a disproportionate share of nutrient and sediment loading. That means meaningful improvement is achievable when efforts are focused on the right priorities.

The purpose of the WMP is take knowledge and turn it into action. The completed plan will provide a practical roadmap for protecting and improving the long-term health of Lake Monomonac so future generations can enjoy the same clean water, recreational opportunities, and sense of community that make this lake so special today.

What We’ve Learned
Extensive research conducted in 2025 and 2026 examined water quality, shoreline conditions, watershed drainage patterns, road runoff, septic systems, and other factors affecting Lake Monomonac. Together, these studies tell a clear and consistent story.

  • The lake remains healthy, but warning signs are present. Lake Monomonac continues to provide the recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, and natural beauty that make it such a valued resource. However, multiple indicators suggest that the lake is experiencing increasing environmental stress. Without intervention, those trends are expected to continue.
  • Water quality is under increasing pressure. Elevated nutrients, cyanobacteria blooms, declining water clarity, and oxygen stress in deeper waters indicate that the lake is experiencing the environmental stress.
  • Many impacts originate near the shoreline. Shoreline development, stormwater runoff, erosion, aging septic systems, limited vegetative buffers, and poorly managed drainage systems all contribute to the challenges facing the lake.
  • The path forward is clear. The studies found that a relatively small number of shoreline areas and drainage sites account for a disproportionate share of nutrient and sediment loading. Because the most significant sources of impact are identifiable, improvement efforts can be focused where they will have the greatest benefit.
  • The lake is still highly responsive to action. The studies show that many of the factors affecting water quality are manageable. Restoring shoreline buffers, reducing runoff, improving drainage systems, and implementing other best management practices can produce measurable improvements over time.

  • Time matters. The longer pollutant inputs continue unchecked, the more difficult and expensive restoration becomes. Taking action now is far more effective than waiting until problems become more severe.

From Planning to Action
A draft of the Watershed Management Plan will be presented to the public in fall 2026. This will provide an opportunity for residents, stakeholders, and partner communities to review the findings, ask questions, and provide feedback. Following that process, the plan will be refined and finalized, incorporating community input while remaining grounded in sound science. The result will be a practical roadmap for protecting and improving Lake Monomonac for years to come.

Once the WMP is complete, the focus will shift from understanding problems to implementing solutions. The studies conducted over the past two years have identified where impacts are occurring, what is causing them, and which actions are likely to produce the greatest benefit. The next phase will be about turning that knowledge into measurable results.

  • Priorities will guide action. The WMP will identify the shoreline areas, drainage systems, and watershed locations where improvements can have the greatest impact on water quality. Efforts will be focused where they can deliver the most meaningful results.
  • Implementation will replace assessment. Our scientific work is nearing completion. The next stage will emphasize on-the-ground projects, including stormwater improvements, erosion control, shoreline restoration, and other best management practices.
  • Partnerships will be essential. Protecting the lake requires coordination among property owners, municipalities, state agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders. The WMP will help align responsibilities and encourage collaborative action.
  • Property owners play a critical role. Many of the opportunities for improvement are located on or near private property. Voluntary stewardship practices, improved shoreline buffers, responsible drainage management, and informed decision-making can collectively make a significant difference. (See LakeSmart below.)
  • Funding opportunities will be pursued. Working with NH DES and other partners, we will seek grant funding and other resources to help support implementation efforts and accelerate progress.
  • The opportunity is now. Lake Monomonac is providing clear signals that action is needed. The causes of many water quality concerns are known, and practical solutions are available. Acting now will be more effective and less costly than waiting until conditions become more severe.

The Watershed Management Plan is not an endpoint. It is the beginning of a long-term commitment to protecting and improving Lake Monomonac so future generations can continue to enjoy the clean water, healthy habitat, and recreational opportunities that make the lake such a valued resource.

    LakeSmart: How you can help

    One initiative already underway is our partnership with NH LAKES through the LakeSmart program. LakeSmart is a voluntary initiative that helps property owners improve shoreline conditions, reduce runoff, and protect water quality through practical, science-based stewardship practices.

    Many of the challenges identified through the Watershed Management Plan originate near the shoreline. As a result, individual property owners have an important role to play in protecting and improving water quality. While no single property can solve these issues alone, small improvements made across many properties can collectively produce meaningful benefits for the lake. LakeSmart provides a practical way for residents to support the long-term goals of the Watershed Management Plan while helping preserve the health, beauty, and recreational value of Lake Monomonac.

    The program includes free, confidential property assessments that identify opportunities to improve shoreline buffers, better manage stormwater, and reduce the movement of nutrients and sediment into the lake. Participants receive personalized recommendations tailored to their property’s unique conditions, allowing improvements to be implemented over time at a pace that works for them.

    Learn More

    WMP Resources

    • Public Forum: Protecting the Future of Lake Monomonac. On 10/20/25, Grace Little of FB Environmental gave a great presentation outlining our watershed management plan. Although the work is still in the beginning stages it is continuing on schedule. If you missed the presentation, you can watch it here. Passcode: ij?99Qt8