Watershed and Road Drainage Report Big Alum Lake BOD MTG

March 21, 2019

Tom Clark Big Alum Lake Association

775-846-1994 Clarktm3863@charter.net

The Watershed Team

Team Members 2018-2019

Tom ClarkTom Faxon Jr. Dave Bellerose Matt Kibbe Wes Sargent Paul Roy Scott Sanderson

Agenda

• Lake Area Inspections • Areas of Concern • Engineering Plans and Costs • Meetings and Discussions • Grants and Long Term Planning • Education and Communication to Lake Residents • Recommendations • Discussion Time

2

1

6

3

5

4

9

7 8

10

Inspections and identified Areas

1. Erosion of Road 2-6 Mt Dan Rd and culvert behind the dam

2. Existing Drainage needing repair on Mt Dan Rd. Repair under contract

3. Road erosion into 52 Mt Dan Rd from Pumping station rain runoff

4. Culvert at end of Paradise Rd 5. Existing swale @ 81 Paradise

Rd & watershed brook to lake

6. Existing swale ~ 87 Paradise 7. Watershed swamp and

drainage @ 132 Lake Rd. 8. Severe road erosion , 150 to

134 Lake Rd. Going into lake 9. Swamp watershed culvert 10. Road erosion through ITAC

to lake.

Near Term Areas of Concern

• Four Key Areas Identified – The first two are critical and need attention

• North End cove- Lake Rd & IAM- Clark Rd Ext

– The third(s) is being worked currently as a repair • Mt Dan Rd existing catch basins and swales • Sewer station rain water erosion

– The fourth is in need of cleanup and minor repair • Paradise Lane swale and drainage into watershed brook

at 81 Paradise Lane.

Big Alum Lake Drainage Key Areas of Concern - Details

Area # 8 - The most severe problem is at the north end at the hill going from 148 Lake rd down to 134 Lake Rd. During a storm the dirt road washes directly through the property of 136 Lake Rd and is filling the lake with silt. This is excessive and I have video which is very eye opening Area #10 – The area on the lake side of the Italian American Club at the south east end of the lake has a erosion problem with drainage cutting through the road and going to the lake between 290 and 292 Clarke Rd Ext. Area # 2 & #3 – The existing drain areas a on the West side of Mt Dan Rd and the area at hill near the sewer pumping station and cutting into the driveway of 52 Mt Dan Rd and going directly to the lake. (Currently approved & scheduled for repair this spring) Area #5 – This area is at the bottom of the small hill at 81 Paradise Ln and directs the water in to the stream going directly into the lake. There is a granite Rip/Rap swale that is covered over and no longer very functional. Cleanup required.

Big Alum North End 134 to 148 Lake Rd Area (8)

Show Erosion Videos

North End 140 Lake Rd North End cove with silt on ice

Big Alum South East End 290-292 Clark Rd Ext Area (10)

Big Alum Lake West Side 50-52 Mt Dan Rd - Area (4)

Big Alum Lake West Side 81 Paradise Ln Area (5)

Meetings & Discussions • McClure Engineering (Charlton)- Two associates

– Discussions on areas of the lake – Full field tour of the lake – Engineering quotation on four areas – Grant option discussion

• Bertin Engineering (Southbridge) – Lead Engineer – Site Review and options discussed – Quotation on Area 8

• Jalbert Engineering (Sturbridge) Lenny Jalbert – No- Bid

• Watershed Team Meeting 2-19-2019 – Team review of associated areas and review of quotes

• Town Engineer – Butch Jackson – Discussed options for town support – Field visit planned (Waiting for weather)

Engineering Quotations • Bertin Engineering

– Area #8 $7,000

• McClure Engineering – Area #8 $16,000 – Area #10 $12,250 – Area #4 $10,500 – Area #5 $ 3,500

• Jalbert Engineering – No Quote

Grants and Team Plan

• Plans – Near Term-Get Construction Estimates (ROM)

• Two areas (#8 & #10) and three contractors identified • Define next steps forward for BALA July Mtg.

– Long Term- Layout a 5 year plan – Set objectives/Goal for improved Water Quality

• Grants – Scott Sanderson taking the lead

• List of potential grant sources obtained • Time consuming process • Grant writing and submission to be completed • Most grants require some percent of skin in the game

Educate the Residents on Watershed

• Communicate the importance of Watershed protection to BALA – How does erosion and silt damage the lake – Do’s and Don’ts about lake chemistry

• Present Best Management Practices plan

– Examples of other lake improvement projects – Studies of other lakes with similar issues – Show data of water visibility decline (Secchi Disk)

• Need Secchi Disk and Chemistry analysis data

Recommendations • Vote on Priority of areas to be addresses

– Team recommendation is Areas 8 and 10 • Spend on Engineering of area #8 to start grant and town

approval process. • Start land owner approval process for swale at IAM Club • Assemble and educational plan to get residents on board

with Watershed protection and water quality improvement • Prepare a presentation to the BALA body for watershed

plan acceptance at July Mtg. • Add a optional Watershed Protection Fee to the Annual

dues mailing/Web site. (Keep watershed funding separate from normal BALA budget) – Recommend a request for $50 to $100 above dues

Discussions and Questions

• How to kickoff BALA Grant Fund Process? • Better ways to get residents interested in

funding lake protection? • Spending BALA Funds on Watershed? • What is the general feeling of the BALA BOD?

• Feedback needed

Questions? Other Watershed Topics?

The End