HB422

I support HB 422, increasing penalties for violations of the shore land and water quality protection act. Thank you for your consideration of the matter.

I live on Little Lake Sunapee and believe strongly in the value of Shoreland Protection for the sake of water quality and lake stewardship. I am in favor of strengthening the law around shoreland protection, but I also believe that education about the law (and reasons behind it) is critical. In my experience, owners within 250 feet of the shore often do whatever they please and then plead ignorance. Officials may be aware of these infractions, but not much happens in terms of enforcement. The lack of consequences seriously undermines the impact of the law and sends a signal that the law is not important. Enforcement is pivotal to protecting the quality of our lakes.

I believe the current fine of up to $5,000 is not enough of a deterrent.

This bill makes good sense because increased fines for violations are needed to serve as an increased deterrent for people to knowingly violate the Act. With increased compliance, lakes would be cleaner and healthier.

Our lakes are some of our most valuable resources. The fines for violations of the shoreland protection act have not been increased in years. Given the increase in real estate values around our lakes we need to make sure that fines for violations remain meaningful and are not just seen as a "cost of doing business" on the lakeshore.

I currently live on Lower Suncook in Center Barnstead. It is a beautiful lake which has suffered recently due to removal of lots of vegetation on the shoreline - especially on Upper Suncook. Fertilizer use seems to have increased as has stormwater runoff causing more nitrogen and cyanobacteria blooms which are harmful to pets and humans and can aerate and affect people miles from the lake. The only way to prevent people from taking down trees on the shoreline and other vegetation or using fertilizer is to have a deterrent which is so significant that no one would even consider doing it. This bill is a start and I strongly support it.

Ignorance should not be a defense for continuing to jeopardize the health and safety of our lakes. People tend to recognize the severity of their actions when it impacts their bottom line, i.e. their wallet

Please vote yes to better protect NH shorelines and water resources.

Promotes lake health !

Please support increased penalties for shoreline and water quality offenses. I find it disheartening when property owners intentionally do the wrong thing, putting our public lakes at risk, knowing that the there won't be consequences or they will be minor. We need something significant to deter residents from violating the shoreline protection act. We follow the law and would like others to do the same. What they damage, we all live with.

We are aware of people who count the current penalties as simply a "cost of doing business" -- i,.e., getting what they want. I would strongly encourage the increase in penalties. It has been a long time coming! It would also be even better if those who disobeyed the ordinances were required to return the land as they had found it as in true in some states. Thank you.

It establishes a protected shoreland area close to lakes, rivers, and streams dealing with vegetation removal, excavation, fill, fertilizer use, and development activities to safeguard our waterbody health. These fines for violations of the Act have not increased with the cost of inflation over the years. By increasing the fines for violations may serve as an increased deterrent for people to knowingly violate the Act and will once again make people aware to protect our shorelines.. Ultimately with increased compliance, our lakes would be cleaner and healthier.

Greater deterrents are needed to stop offenders. You can't replace an 80 year old tree once it's cut down...the roots of which are holding the shoreline.

Given the mega mansions being built along our freshwaters it is apparent many people have the resources to ignore our water quality protection strategies. Perhaps increasing the penalities will give them more reason to abide by these protections.

As a member of Laconia Conservation Comm. I have witnessed first hand lakefront property owners intentionally cut down trees and change landscape. They have no problem paying the fines and feel no remorse. We need to make the fines higher to make them think twice. Storm water run-off pollutes our lakes and hastens the life cycle of our beautiful water bodies. Our state depends on tourism for revenue and polluted lakes will not draw tourists. When there are increasing cyanobacteria outbreaks people cannot recreate on our lakes. Please pass this bill and make our laws stronger for water-quality protection. Thank you.

Dear Committee Members, I am a resident of Webster, NH and also represent the Lake Winnepocket Lake Association. I strongly support this bill to increase penalties for infractions of the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act. I have personally witnessed residents and sometime businesses that do not comply with the standards and restrictions set by this important bill that helps protect our natural water bodies for future generations. A wealthy homeowner shouldn't be able to clear cut shoreline trees that would not qualify just to have a nice view, and then get their hands slapped. This bill is important because: The Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act establishes a protected shoreland area close to lakes, rivers, and streams. Within this area, vegetation removal, excavation, fill, fertilizer use, and development activities are regulated to safeguard waterbody health. The fines for violations of the Act have not increased with the cost of inflation over the years. Increasing the fines for violations may serve as an increased deterrent for people to knowingly violate the Act. With increased compliance, lakes would be cleaner and healthier. Alan Kono, MD Webster, NH

Considering the escalating issue of cyanobacteria in NH lakes, including Lake Winnipesaukee, this bill will allow for increased penalties for violation of the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act. A deterrent for those who knowingly violate the act.

As president of the Contoocook Lake Area Preservation Association (CLAPA), I am writing on behalf of our organization in support of this bill. CLAPA is a 150-member voluntary association dedicated to preserving and protecting the health and beauty of our lake. We support this bill aimed at more strongly deterring violations of the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act, and urge you to vote in favor of it.

This seems like a no-brainer! Why not find a better way for towns to coordinate?

This law needs to be enforced and a larger penalty for violations might make people think twice before clearing their shorefront properties. Anything we can do to protect our lakes should be done!

Potable water is a great resource and must be protected from polluters with deep pockets!

Dear committee members: I'm a resident of Lee's Pond in Moultonboro, NH. For years, we've been fighting milfoil, and seem to be finally getting a handle of the invasive, but now Cyanobacteria is posing a much greater threat to all of our lakes. We are told that runoff is a huge contributor to the nutrients that the bacteria feed on, and anything we can do to curtail this process would be beneficial. Currently lakeside property owners are often very lax about what runs off of their property, and are more willing to pay a penalty than to stop. I'm hoping that this proposed fine will encourage folks to do the right thing, if not because of their conscience, but their pocketbook. I therefore support this bill, and urge you to also! Respectfully submitted, Karin Nelson

I fear there are many lakefront property owners who would pay ten times the amount of the current fine.

Preserving the quality of NH's lakes, rivers, streams relies on the proper management and regulations surrounding those water bodies. If individuals or businesses violate the Shoreland Water Quality Act, there should be a significant fine to deter this. The fine of $5,000 was set a number of years ago and should be increased to $15,000 to act as a stronger deterrent ro protect NH's surface waters.