Watershed Management Plan
Water Quality Concerns
The primary concern for Big Pea Porridge Pond is water quality, and in particular, the siltation inputs to Ragged Cove and other locations along the shoreline.
There are numerous private and public gravel roads on the heavily developed mountain above the pond. Eroded soils from unstable sources including these roads and improperly managed construction sites are carried in runoff toward Big Pea Porridge Pond.
For well over 30 years, heavy rains have caused soil erosion that results in sediment and other pollutants entering the pond and its surrounding overburdened wetlands.
The wetland downgradient of Allard Hill Road and Brenner Drive in particular contains expansive sediment deposits up to 2 feet deep.
The ecological function and ability of this wetland to protect the pond have been dramatically impacted. As a result, sediment from upgradient sources continues to flow into Ragged Cove, negatively impacting the pond ecology.
Best Management Practices Plan
A BMP plan evaluates possible sources of sediment and other pollutants and suggests controls that will prevent these discharges from going into surface and ground waters. This is an important first step toward a successful watershed management plan.
Below is a link to our Best Management Practices plan from Burr Phillips, an engineer and a certified professional in erosion and sediment control (Burr H. D. Phillips, PE, CPESC Civil Solutions, LLC).
Disclaimer: These are conceptual plans and not final design docs.
Photo courtesy of Michael Cohen
To follow up the BMP plan, BPPWPA is formulating a Watershed Management Plan with support from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
Photos
On July 31, 2024 we had rain causing siltation in the cove. Below are drone photos taken the following days, as well as links to photos of siltation after previous rain events. This is what we are trying to prevent.
Photos courtesy Bob Christiansen
