Lake News
Court Stipulation between Kilnwood and LKWA – Proposed Changes
In 1973, a court stipulation was reached between G. Ronald Thomson, the developer of Kilnwood, and Ted Hilton, et al. This court stipulation limited the number of dwellings that could be built, and stipulated the dock system. Kilnwood is now a mature community, many of whose members are also LKWA members. KWA (Kilnwood Association) would like to make some changes to the original court stipulation, and so Antonia von Gottberg and John Scudder (former LKWA president) met with KWA at the Kilnwood Beach to understand the issues.
The three proposed changes cover the following issues:
- The stipulation states the dock shall have only three 30-foot finger piers, and limits the use of the docking to 16 motor boats. KWA finds that the dock as specified only fits 14 motor boats, and, since they have 29 lots, they have to rotate spaces. They would like to change the footprint by adding 2 fingers to the west so they can accommodate 16 boats. They have submitted a plan to the state, and, assuming it is approved, would like to bring in a contractor so they will be able to benefit from the change this summer.
- The stipulation does not permit launching of motorboats from the property. KWA want to be able to launch boats for boat slip holders (only) - not day traffic - from the most northern end, grassy beachfront.
- KWA also want to be able to bid on outside land should it become available for buffering purposes against further development or for well water - definitely not for new construction or expansion of membership.
The original court's stipulation can be viewed here. The proposed changes are listed below....
The
KWA would like to change
the wording in Item # 3:Old Item # 3 - The petitionee shall redesign his dock system as approved by the Governor and Council so that there shall only be three 30 foot finger piers....
New Item # 3 - The petitionee shall redesign his dock system as approved by the Governor and Council so that there shall only be docking slip space for the 16 motor boat limitation specified in Item # 4.
The KWA would like to add wording to Items # 5 and # 10:
Item # 5 - The petitionee shall not permit the launching of motor boats from his property except for motor boats of resident unit owners having an assigned dock slip.
Item # 10 - The petitionee shall not add any additional tracts of land to the property described in paragraph 2 above, except for small adjacent tracts of land as may be required to service or protect the community and not for additional residential lots, or grant any …
The proposed new dock design, which is pending state approval, is pictured. Click here or on the picture for a larger view.
Please review and email any comments by May 1st. Based on the feedback of the membership of LKWA, the officers will determine how to best move forward.
Potential Impacts of Kilnwood Dock Expansion
The Loon Preservation Committee offers the following summary of Lake Kanasatka loon nesting activity and nest raft use to inform discussion of plans to expand the boat dock and shoreline use at Kilnwood:
Because loons have never used the nest raft in its current location at the west end of the docks, the addition of two dock extensions there will not have a direct impact on the loons ability to access potential or historic nest sites. The 25% increase (4 additional boats) in boat traffic from the docks may increase the risk of disturbance to nests in that part of the lake, but the area is already heavily used and the additional boats probably will not expose the loons to any significantly different kind of human activity.
The proposed use of Kilnwood shorefront as a boat launch site for slip-owners may present more of an increase in human disturbance to the loons. Although the loon pair that has nested on the rocks near the dock are presumably habituated to the human activity at the waterfront to some extent, launching a boat is a more involved and variable process than using a slip from the water. Furthermore, as natural turnover brings new breeding loons to the lake, there is some chance that those individual loons will not be as tolerant, and will be deterred from nesting.
LPC’s main goals for managing the Kanasatka loon nest sites are to provide an optimal nest raft location and minimize the risk of human disturbance to the natural or raft nest. While the additional boat spaces do not appear to pose a direct problem for potential or historic nest sites, proposed boat launching at the site is a more significant concern. The usual natural nest site on the rocks to the northeast of the boat docks and the planned nest raft location to the northeast of the Kilnwood beach would probably both be better off without the addition of boat launch activity.
For more information or with questions, please contact LPC at (603)476-5666.
John Cooley, Jr.
Staff biologist
Loon Preservation Committee
Email: jcooley@loon.org
EPA and DES form Performance Partnership Agreement
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) and EPA New England have completed a draft of the FFY 2008-2010 Performance Partnership Agreement (PPA) which covers the period October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2010. This planning document (and the associated collaborative planning process) is the primary framework through which DES, EPA New England, and their stakeholders: 1) set environmental priorities; 2) negotiate Areas for Collaboration and; 3) document expectations in the form of a comprehensive DES work plan.
The goals of the PPA are to:
- Help direct limited resources to the most significant New Hampshire environmental priorities (i.e., Climate Change/Energy Use and the Environmental Impacts of Growth, in particular, Stormwater Issues);
- Provide DES and its many partners with flexibility in achieving environmental results; and
- Improve accountability for performance. The draft PPA and DES Comprehensive Work Plan are now available on the DES website at http://www.des.nh.gov/ppa.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the PPA or Work Plan, or if you would like to be involved in the development of the Department’s next strategic plan, please contact:
Thomas Burack at (603) 271-3449 Thomas.burack@des.nh.gov,
or Vincent Perelli at (603) 271-8989Vincent.Perelli@des.nh.gov
COMPREHENSIVE SHORELAND PROTECTION ACT (CSPA) -- AN UPDATE
ALSO, the NH Lakes Association is planning a major LakeFest celebration with an "historic" theme to be held WED June 25, 2008 at the Inn at Church Landing - this event complete with food and drink, entertainment, silent auction and verbal auction - tickets available thru Bill Smith.
Bill Smith
Vice Chair of the State Commission
BOATING EDUCATION CERTIFICATE
Just a reminder that NH now requires a boating education certificate for everyone who operates a vessel powered by a 25 horsepower or higher motor. Safe Boater Education Certificate may be obtained by persons 16 years of age or older and must be carried on board. Persons will be eligible to apply for a Safe Boater Education Certificate only by successfully passing one of the following:
1. A proctored examination
administered as part of a
classroom boating safety course approved by the NH Marine Patrol
2. A proctored equivalency examination approved by the NH Marine Patrol
3. A National Association of State Boating Law Administrators–approved course and examination from another state (will accept one from Massachusetts provided it was not issued by an online exam provider)
2. A proctored equivalency examination approved by the NH Marine Patrol
3. A National Association of State Boating Law Administrators–approved course and examination from another state (will accept one from Massachusetts provided it was not issued by an online exam provider)
For more information and to find a schedule of classes, go to the Marine Patrol website.
Their website address is: www.nh.gov/safety/ss.
Laurie Whitley Vice President