Accomplishments

Protecting Lake Attitash for Over 30 Years

The Lake Attitash Association (LAA) is a 501(c)(3), all-volunteer nonprofit formed in 1993 to restore and protect Lake Attitash through science-based action, grants, advocacy, education and community leadership.

Timeline of Accomplishments

1977–1980: Early Warning Signs

  • Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB – Cyanobacteria / blue-green algae) first identified in Lake Attitash – a health hazard for humans and animals

  • 1980 Excessive weed growth and widespread septic system failures documented

  • Annual winter drawdown of lake levels begins to allow shoreline cleanup

1981–1996: Infrastructure Improvements

  • Public hearings and advocacy around failing septic systems

  • Sewer systems installed around the lake, reducing direct nutrient inputs

1993: LAA Founded

  • Lake residents form the Lake Attitash Association to advocate for the lake’s health

  • First professional aquatic plant survey conducted

1994–1998: First Grants & Lake Studies

  • DEM Lake & Pond Grants awarded (1994, 1996, 1998)

  • Water quality monitoring, public education, and nuisance weed harvesting begin

  • Watershed planning initiated with Amesbury to guide long-term restoration

1999: Watershed Management Plan

  • Camp, Dresser & McKee completes the Watershed & Waterways Management Plan for Amesbury. Plan becomes the blueprint for future restoration and grant funding

2002–2005: Turning Planning into Action

  • Lake & Pond Demonstration Grant funds stormwater controls, wetland restoration, and the Back River ‘Gunderboom’ (nutrient filter)

  • DEP s.319 Grant funds stormwater best management practices and filtration systems

2009–2010: Defending the Lake

  • LAA initiates legal and regulatory action over composting operations near Back River (farm on Bear Hill Road, Merrimac)

  • Industrial gelatin waste disposal at the farm ceases

  • Composting operations moved away from the waterway

  • State and federal monitoring expanded

  • LAA tracks HABs

  • DPH begins testing program for HABs

  • 4 HABs noted for 2010 – 9 weeks ‘no contact with the water’

2010: Invasive Weeds Discovered

  • Milfoil detected in Lake Attitash

  • First comprehensive aquatic plant surveys completed

  • Volunteer-led invasive water chestnut removal begins in Back River

  • 4 HABs noted – 8 weeks ‘no contact with the water’

2011–2014: Expanded Stormwater Management

  • DEP S 319 Grant addresses stormwater discharges on the Merrimac side of the watershed

  • Rain gardens, sediment traps, catch basins, and infiltration systems installed

  • Community education and Weed Watcher programs launched

2012: Lake-Wide Milfoil Treatment

  • First-ever whole-lake invasive plant treatment completed

  • Funded collaboratively by Amesbury, Merrimac, and LAA

  • 4 HABs noted – 10 weeks ‘no contact with the water’

2013–Present: Annual Weed Management

  • Annual professional surveys and targeted treatments

  • Volunteer Weed Watchers Program established to locate invasive plants – Milfoil and Curlyleaf Pondweed.

  • Volunteer program to hand pull water chestnuts – Annual task

  • Herbicide spot treatment areas as needed

  • 4 HABs noted in 2013 – 8 weeks ‘no contact with the water’

  • 2 HABs noted for 2014 – 4-5 weeks ‘no contact with the water’

2015–2016: Science Drives the Next Step

  • LAA hires national expert on cyanobacteria / Harmful Algal Blooms Dr. Ken Wagner

  • Excess nutrients / phosphorus cause HABs. Wagner’s studies identify sediment-bound phosphorus as the primary cause of Lake Attitash recurring algal blooms

  • Alum treatment identified as the most feasible long-term solution

  • 4 HABs notes for 2015 – 10 weeks ‘no contact with the water’

2017: Landmark Grant Awarded

  • With strong LAA leadership and fundraising, MADEP awards Amesbury / Attitash a major $595,000 s.319 grant for lake wide alum treatment

  • Merrimac, Amesbury, the LAA and lake residents raise the required $218,000 in matching funds

2018–2020: Grant funded Alum Treatment & Education

  • Two alum applications completed in deep areas of the lake – 2019 & 2020

  • Extensive community education and monitoring programs conducted

  • Result: dramatic reduction in HABs, cleaner and clearer water

  • Actual cost  $400,671

2021–2024: Protecting the Gains

  • Continued invasive plant monitoring and herbicide ‘spot’ treatments in areas of dense growth

  • Continued water quality testing, including testing to determine main sources of phosphorus

  • Phosphorus filtering projects

2024 – 2025:

  • LAA took the lead in a successful community effort to prevent the development of a large-scale solar farm on a forested hill on the north side of the lake, (Birchmeadow area), on land designated by Amesbury as a Water Resource Protection District (WRPD). LAA employed the services of Keegan Werlin LLP to assist lake residents and the City of Amesbury to resolve the legal issues involved. The purpose of this WRPD is to protect the water quality of Amesbury’s drinking water supply. This solar farm would have caused a dramatic increase in sediment laden stormwater runoff into Lake Attitash, increasing the risk of harmful algal growth.

2025:

  • LAA Developed innovative proposal to reduce the inflow of phosphorus from Back River into the lake

  • Obtained permit from Merrimac to install phosphorus filters in Back River at Bear Hill Road

  • Lake Level concerns raised by residents on the Merrimac side of the lake resulted in regular and productive meetings between Amesbury and Merrimac DPW Directors, LAA and lake residents.

2026:

  • City of Amesbury and LAA install filters into 6 key storm drains along the eastern shore of Lake Attitash, designed to absorb phosphorus before it gets into the lake. LAA conducting testing to determine effectiveness. City of Amesbury: $10,000

The Result

✔ Fewer and less severe harmful algal blooms

✔ Dramatically reduced invasive plants

✔ Clearer water and healthier habitat

✔ Protected recreation and property values

Lake Attitash today reflects decades of volunteer leadership, smart science, and sustained community investment. 

All volunteers. Science-based. Focused on results.

Summary of Recent Grant-Funded Projects

Designed to improve water quality in Lake Attitash which provides back up water supply for the City of Amesbury.

  • Installations to minimize sediment and maximize runoff infiltration to groundwater, storm drain infrastructure, wetland restoration, catch basins.

    Project Cost: $362,750

    • Amesbury: $58,600 in kind, $8,750 cash

    • Camp Bauercrest $3,500 in kind

    • Merrimac: $8,000 in kind, $4,000 cash

    • LAA: $6,000 in kind, $2,250 cash

    • State funds $271,650

  • Implementation of structural and non-structural storm water management systems:

    Project Cost: $163,675

    • US EPA/MA DEP: 98,205 cash

    • City of Amesbury: $65,470 cash & in kind

  • Installation of additional storm water controls in Merrimac to combat continued algal blooms and reduce cyanobacteria levels.

    Project Cost: $234,990    

    • MADEP: $136,040

    • Town of Merrimac: $98,950 all in-kind

  • Whole lake milfoil herbicide treatment with Sonar/Fluoridone

    Project Cost: $69,626

    • City of Amesbury: $45,000 cash

    • Town of Merrimac: $11,140 cash + $8,860 for ongoing water quality expenses

    • LAA: $13,486 

  • Application of Alum treatment to significantly reduce harmful algal blooms for 15+ years.

    Treatment completed in two alum applications in 2019 & 2020 and extensive community education program.

    Project Cost: $400,671

    • USEPA: 240,402.67

    • City of Amesbury: $85,234

    • Town of Merrimac: $41,912

    • LAA: $33,122