Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee Hosts Water Quality Forum

The Waukewan Watershed is a shared resource comprised of portions of five towns; Meredith, Center Harbor, New Hampton, Ashland, and Holderness. The Waukewan Watershed includes Lake Waukewan, the Snake River, Winona Lake, and several smaller ponds. Lake Waukewan is the sole source of drinking water for most of the businesses and residents in and around Meredith Village. 

Public officials from five communities were invited to a water quality forum hosted by the Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee held on April 11, 2023.  A panel of experts was on hand to present water quality data and to identify concerns and recommendations. One critically important theme addressed by several of the presenters was the risks associated with Cyanobacteria.  Cyanobacteria is a potentially harmful bacterium that exists in our water bodies and represents a public health threat and a threat to the municipal water supply in particular. According to Donna Van Ness, “We had a good turnout and I believe that the officials that attended came away with a heightened awareness of the issues.”

Officials were provided with water quality reports, the watershed plan for Lake Waukewan, and a host of other resources intended to facilitate their implementation efforts to protect water quality.    For more information about the Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee, please contact Donna VanNess Murphy, Chair at 603 279-4894.