Over the past five months, we gave our lakes a tremendously loud voice in the New Hampshire Legislature. Thanks to your online sign-ins, emails, phone calls to committee members and legislators, and your stories shared at public hearings, the legislature passed several lake-friendly bills!
Below, I’ve highlighted seven lake-friendly bills that are now just awaiting the Governor’s signature. Together, these new initiatives will positively impact the restoration and preservation of the health of all our 1,000 lakes. I have also included information on a few bills that almost passed thanks to your advocacy. Thanks to our advocacy Partners at NH LAKES for leading the way and making sure we are informed about what’s happening in the NH Legislate.
POLLUTED RUNOFF WATER MANAGEMENT BILLS PASSED
HB 1293, the use of certain fertilizers on turf
What it does:
Reduces nutrient pollution in our waters that can lead to the excessive growth of native and invasive plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.
How it does it:
- Establishes conditions when (during/before rain, on frozen ground) and locations where (near storm drains, on pavement) fertilizer cannot be applied.
- Requires signs to be posted in retail locations explaining the negative impacts of fertilizer on surface waters.
SHORELAND AND WETLAND BILLS PASSED
HB 1103, revising the penalties of the Shoreland Protection Act
What it does:
Strengthens the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) ability to enforce the Surface Water Quality Protection Act, which regulates the use, development, and vegetation management on land within 250 feet of lakes.
How it does it:
- Removes language requiring that NHDES prove that a violation of the Act damaged the waterbody.
- Requires the damaged site to be restored to meet specific standards.
- Allows the NHDES to impose fines if site restoration is not completed within one year of notification of the violations.
HB 1113, shoreland septic systems
What it does:
Strengthens assessment requirements for shoreland septic systems upon waterfront property sales, reducing nutrient and bacteria pollution to waterbodies.
How it does it:
- At the time of property transfer, if a septic system is within 250 feet of the water, the buyer shall, at the buyer’s expense, engage in a septic system evaluation or accept an evaluation done within the past 180 days.
- If the system is not approved or approved before 9/1/89, the buyer shall hire a permitted designer.
- If the system is found with signs of failure (by the evaluator) or in failure (by the designer), the Local health inspector and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services must be notified, and the buyer shall replace the system within 180 days.
HB 1360, relative to emergency authority on the public or coastal waters of the state
What it does: Protects lake shorelines during periods of high water, reducing shoreline erosion and inundation of septic leach fields from boat wakes.
How it does it: Allows the New Hampshire Department of Safety to establish an emergency maximum no-wake zone on public and coastal waters for up to 10 days due to weather or environmental conditions.
WATER QUALITY BILLS PASSED
HB 1143: Control of cyanobacteria blooms
What it does: Allows the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to monitor, manage, and reduce the risk of cyanobacteria blooms and to develop a regulatory process for in-lake treatments.
How it does it:
- Adds language specifying the need to diagnose and remediate cyanobacteria blooms.
- Provides a mechanism for granting funds to control blooms.
- Adds authority to develop rules overseeing the issuance of permits for in-lake management projects.
LAKE-FRIENDLY BILLS THAT ALMOST PASSED
Thanks to YOUR advocacy, the legislature almost passed a few other key lake-friendly initiatives.
HB 1250, allowing municipalities to establish a political unit around a lake for the sole purpose of protecting and remediating surface water quality, failed to pass the New Hampshire House of Representatives by just eight votes.SB 431, as amended from a 200-foot to 300-foot setback for wake surfing to help minimize impacts to lake health and safety, overwhelmingly passed the New Hampshire House of Representatives on a bipartisan vote of 214-148. The Senate, however, refused to concur with the amended bill, and the setback remains at 150 feet.