I.  Purpose of this Chapter   

Waterville Valley is a unique place, a town in a pristine natural setting, bisected by clear streams, and surrounded by forested mountains.  It is the vision of the Town of Waterville Valley to insure that the quality of the valley and the natural resources within it are maintained into the future. Increasing population growth, housing and the accompanying services required to support them will strain the preservation of these natural resources.  We would propose some common sense plans to ensure that Waterville Valley maintains its unique “sense of place” and that the forest, recreational facilities, residences and commercial facilities be integrated through natural landscaping as one.  The natural resources that we will look at in the chapter includes:

A.     Habitat for both plants and animals

B.     Water

C.     Soils

D.     Historic sites, Scenic, and Archaeological

 II. Conservation & Preservation objectives

            While there are no major environmental problems in Waterville Valley today, the environment of the valley needs to be protected.  Towards that end we have established the following objectives:

1. Maintain the Biodiversity of plants and animals within and adjacent to the town by:

·        Reestablishing river and stream green corridors that support a diversity of plant and animal life

·        Preserving all existing wetlands

·        Minimizing fragmentation of remaining forested areas.

·        Minimizing soil erosion.

·        Re-establish the Mad River to a pre-logging state to allow for a more natural trout habitat. 

2. Maintain the quality of groundwater, streams and rivers by:

·        Identifying and protecting the well head watershed

·        Extending the sewer line to areas of the town with high environmental risk

·        Inspecting and certifying existing septic systems on a periodic basis

·        Monitoring drinking water quality

·        Reduce the use of salt on town roads and insure safe storage of road salts

·        Work to educate businesses and residents to use low phosphate, slow release nitrogen fertilizer and to not to use pesticides on lawns.

3. Keep Waterville as a beautiful forested natural setting

·        A minimum of 20% of all lots to be kept in their natural forest state, or if construction makes this impossible , replanted with native species.

·        Thirty percent of new planted materials to be native species

·        Work with the forest service to manage the visual / erosion impact of forest harvesting

·        Maintain forested greenways along paths, hiking trails, cross country ski trails throughout the town.

4. Identify and protect historic, archaeological and scenic resources

·        Work with the USFS to maintain scenic outlooks and trails in forest areas close to town.

·        Identify (on maps) camps from the lumbering period.

·        Working with the historical society to develop a walking map and metal historical markers identifying sites of historic interest and relics form early Waterville Valley days.

 III.               Existing Conditions

 A. Soils – Soils listed for Waterville Valley in the USDA soil survey of Grafton County, NH include Colton, Monadnock, Herman, Kingman, Croghan, Becket and Rumney.  The soils are described as sand and gravel and very permeable. The soils are generally considered poor at filtering pollutants and are easily eroded.    They are shallow and subject to landslides and erosion.  Evidence of the shallow soils, with landslides can be seen along the East side of the Mad River on the Cocoran property.  Erosion and sedimentation of soils can be seen on the high banks of West Branch Road, West of the Mad River.  

Issues to Address

·        The soils are not considered suitable for on site sewage disposal systems (septic systems).

·        There is a significant hazard of ground water pollution.

·        Droughtiness limits the establishment of lawns and landscaping.

·        The area is susceptible to erosion and sedimentation during flooding.  During construction extensive erosion control measures are needed including mulches, straw bales, sediment catch basins, and terraces.

·        Roads built on these soils need coarse-grained base material to a depth below the frost line with installed drainage.

B. Surface  Water – Waterville Valley is surrounded by several four thousand foot high mountains with  narrow backed ridges connecting them.  These mountains are thickly forested and capture enough moisture from passing storms to feed a multitude of rivers and streams. These rivers and streams along with ponds and wetlands constitute Waterville Valley’s natural surface water.  Corcoran’s Pond is the town’s only man-made pond. The pond has silted to an average depth of only four feet and now supports a great deal of unnatural aquatic life including leaches and plant growth.  The pond is rapidly filling in and becoming unattractive.  The wetlands throughout the town serve many purposes; they hold excess water and release it slowly into surface and ground water, they filter pollutants and they provide for both plant and animal habitats.  Acid rain is still a significant problem as confirmed by research from Hubbard Brook experimental forest in Thornton, NH. Acid deposition impairs the water quality of rivers and streams in three important ways; lowering pH levels, decreasing acid-neutralizing capacity and increasing aluminum concentrations.

 Issues to Address

·        Cutting the forests as the town grows increases the flow of surface water bringing road salts, fertilizers, sediments and pollutants into the rivers.

·        Development of forested areas with new roads and homes are filling in the wetlands.

·        Throughout the winter salt is spread on town roads, adding chloride to surface waters.

·        New construction brings new lawns.  These lawns are fertilized with high nitrogen and phosphates, which also run into our surface water.

·        Corcoran’s pond will continue to fill with silt.  In the near future the pond will not be suitable for recreational purposes unless it is dredged.

·        Future construction of ponds and retention basins on the valley floor need to be designed to prevent silting.

C. Ground Water - Ground water, starting as rain and snowmelt seeps, by gravity, from the surface down into the soil, sand, gravel and rock.   This ground water feeds an aquifer that is Waterville Valley’s only water supply source.  The quality of our drinking water is good, however the potential for problems exists in a few areas.  

Issues to Address

·        The third most common source of well contamination is from the storage and use of road salt.  Waterville Valley uses a mix of salt and sand on West Branch Rd. and Boulder Way.  All other town roads use straight salt.  Storage of the salt is in a covered shed, however test wells near the storage area shows elevated levels of chloride.

·        Seventy five percent of Waterville Valley households are on town sewers.  However, the twenty five percent of private septic systems are located in the North end and many of them are old and untested for leakage.  The North end of the valley is the watershed for the towns drinking wells.

·        The aquifer is composed of soil, subsoil, sand gravel and other unconsolidated material that lies on top of bedrock.  The properties of water movement in the aquifer, which makes it valuable as a water supply, make it easy for pollutants released to the aquifer to spread rapidly.  As the population grows the potential for ground water pollution grows.

·        Uncontrolled use of pesticides and fertilizers by businesses, the golf course and private homeowners.

 D. Habitat for plants and animals – Waterville Valley developed as a town in the forest and many of its residents moved here attracted to its natural setting and scenery.   The ecosystem of the town in which we live includes the people, animals, and plants.  What we do to diminish any of these, effects everyone.  The viability of the town, ski area and forest are interdependent. 

Issues to Address

·        Along our rivers, where houses have been built, homeowners have removed natural vegetation buffers along the waters edge.  These buffers hold soil, absorb pollution and provide wildlife habitat.

·        In developing large tracts of land and in building new houses much of the natural trees and vegetation is being removed.  New developments in town haven’t replanted trees and shrubs as buffers between buildings and roads as earlier developments have.

·        This destruction of natural landscape has affected wildlife species that need a contiguous habitat. Development creates barriers between necessary habitats hampering wildlife’s efforts to survive. Future developments should include Greenways to connect them to different forest habitats.

·         Development fills wetlands.  Ninety species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in New Hampshire use wetlands during some stage of their lifecycle.  Fifty species prefer or require wetlands for breeding or feeding habitats. 

·        High concentrations of aluminum and increased acidity have reduced species diversity and the abundance of aquatic life.  Fish have received the most attention. But entire food webs are negatively affected

·        The town is surrounded by 42,300 acres of forest that is managed and preserved for timber harvesting, and recreational purposes. Very little contact exists between the USFS and the town to discuss how to jointly preserve the unique environment of the valley.

·        New homeowners aren’t planting with native trees and shrubs, which are needed by birds and mammals for food and shelter.

5. Scenic, historic and archeological resources. - The town of Waterville has a rich history as a recreational and lumbering community. 

Issues to Address

·        Several scenic overlooks on nearby forest service land have grown in.

·        Locations near town, on NFS land where lumber camps were located are being lost to memory.  Old dam sites are not always identified on local hiking maps.

·        Early settlement of Waterville Valley as outlined in both the Goodrich and Bean books is being lost to the present populations memory.

IV Priorities for Implementation

A.     Water Plans

·        Short Term

                                                   i.      Develop a comprehensive wellhead protection program.

                                                 ii.      Continue issuing water quality reports and educational material to property owners.

                                                iii.      Protect wellhead watersheds by carefully monitoring private septic systems and periodically requiring homeowners to show proof that their systems are in good working order.

                                               iv.      Stop the use of road salts, pesticides, and chemicals on all roads, public and private property in the wellhead watershed areas.

                                                 v.      Educate everyone on the benefits of low phosphate, slow release nitrogen fertilizers and natural pest control.

                                               vi.      Monitor underground storage tanks for leaks.

                                              vii.      Establish zoning rules that for new construction all water runoff generated on building lots from roofs, driveways etc. be contained on the property by use of drywells, berms, and rain gardens.

·        Long Term

                                                   i.      Prepare a long-term plan to connect all existing septic systems to the town sewers.

                                                 ii.      Prepare for the possibility of removing radon from our water supply.

                                                iii.      In 2005 when all digital mapping of the town is complete, hire a qualified hydrologist to map all wetlands in town.

B.     Protect animal habitat and rivers

·        Short term

                                                   i.      Protect wetlands with a wetland ordinance establishing a reasonable  buffer between all buildings and wetlands.

                                                 ii.      Allow the conservation commission by ordinance to mark with metal markers all wetlands within the town boundaries (both private and public property)

                                                iii.      The conservation commission working with the Curious George Cottage to prepare educational material on the necessity of preserving wetlands.  Distribute the material with the tax bills and building permits.

                                               iv.      Maintain sufficient woodland buffer along the Mad, West Branch and Snows Brook Rivers.  The purpose of the buffer is to protect the quality of public waters by minimizing erosion and stabilizing soils, preventing siltation and turbidity, preventing excess nutrients and chemical pollution and maintaining natural water temperatures.  Maintaining a healthy tree canopy and shrub under story will preserve fish and wildlife habitats.

·        Long Term

                                                   i.      Prepare a plan to restore Cococoran’s pond to a healthy habitat for fish, animals and people.  Restore trees and shrubs along the shoreline, other that at the beach and dock areas, to help maintain good water quality.  Develop a long-range plan for perpetuating the pond, or allow Snow’s Brook to return to its original form, a brook.

C.     Preserving Waterville Valley’s woodland character

·        Short Term

                                                   i.      Hold workshops with the county forester and the forest service to develop a comprehensive plan to preserve the scenic beauty of Waterville.  Educate the public to the need for forest cutting, and preparing the town when those cuts take place.

                                                 ii.      Appoint a liaison to represent town concerns to the forest service when the NFS implements and actions or changes to the forest master plan.  

                                                iii.      Hold information sessions for individuals and condo associations to teach them the benefits of keeping property wooded and buffered.

                                               iv.      Establish zoning rules  that 20% of all building lots must remain “as found” or replanted with  native species following construction.

                                                 v.      Provide lists of native plant material as part of the building permit application.  By ordinance require that future landscaping contain 30% of native plant material.

·        Long term

                                                   i.      Grant “concessions” to developers who maintain existing habitats.

                                                 ii.      Purchase private recreation lands to remain undeveloped. 

D.     Preserving scenic, historic and archeological resources.

·        Short Term

                                                   i.      Create a new historic zone for Waterville sites existing in the National Forest.  Work to ensure these sites will be marked, preserved with forest harvesting prohibited.  The Town believes that historic sites should be preserved and maintained.  The first step should be the identification of sites within both the Towns boundaries, followed by actions necessary to preserve them. 

 V Conclusion:

            For Waterville to continue into the future as a special place, the words of Nathaniel L. Goodrich written in 1952 in his book – The Waterville Valley, must never be forgotten:

            “In a world of change and upheaval, in times when so many shift from place to place till they have no roots anywhere, Waterville has come to seem one spot which is home to them, is changeless.  Superficially it changes, as all things must, but basically it remains the same; mountains, forest, peace; old friends, welcoming inn with familiar ways.  It comes down to this: Waterville is continuance.”