Grant History

Grants awarded for Lake Attitash since 1993.

    • $10,000 "seed grants" matched with $10,000 by Amesbury, LAA volunteer time and over $24,000 raised from citizens to harvest nuisance weeds

    • Amesbury Watershed management plan created for LA and other waterways

    • LAA Gunderboom – installed as part of EOEA Demonstration grant

    • Cleaned and reinstalled in 2009

    • Total Project Budget: $362,750

    • State Funds: $271,650

    • Match: $93,600

    • Non-state Match breakdown:

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

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

      • Lake Attitash Assoc: $6,000 in kind, $2,250 cash

      • Camp Bauercrest: $3,500 in kind

  • Based on recommendations from the Attitash Watershed Management Plan, funded by a 1998 DEM grant, this project focused on implementation of structural and non-structural stormwater BMPs in one of the largest direct drainage contribution areas of Lake Attitash – Lake Shore Drive area. 10 deep sump catch basins. Three direct discharges treated by one structural BMP, consisting of a series of baffle tanks designed to reduce velocity and trap sediment.

    Project Cost: $163,675

    • $98,205 by the US EPA

    • $65,470 by the Town of Amesbury

  • As a result of legal action by LAA the US National Resource Conservation Services implemented some drainage BMPs at Sargent Farm composting area. DEP conducted specific monitoring plan to assess impact of Sargent Farm composting operations. Composting operation moved away from Back River. Noxious odor problems ceased.

    LAA got local hardware stores to stock non-phosphorous fertilizers

    LAA extensive water chestnut hand pulling operation – Back River area – plants cleared every year thereafter.

  • Whole lake Invasive Plant Treatment & Continuous Efforts: $70,000+

    Whole lake milfoil herbicide treatment with Sonar/Fluoridone

    Project Cost: $69,620

    • Amesbury: $45,000 cash

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

    • LAA: $13,486 

  • The Town of Amesbury, and the Lake Attitash Association, had addressed the specific recommendations in the 1999 Camp Dresser and McGee Watershed management Plan, including the installation of several stormwater BMPs (Best Mgmt Practices). Despite these efforts, water quality within the lake remained low, with significant nutrient issues resulting in HABs /algal blooms and season-wide beach closures due to cyanobacteria levels in 2009.

    The goal of the project was to improve the water quality of Lake Attitash through the implementation of BMPs on the Merrimac side of the watershed. Structural BMPs were used to treat and infiltrate urban stormwater directly discharging to Lake Attitash.

    Grant included a community-based Social Marketing education program for watershed residents. Focus included fertilizer use, pet waste, rain gardens, shoreline clean ups.

    Project Cost: $234,990

    Funding:

    • $36,040 by the US EPA

    • $98,950 Merrimac local match

    Multiple sites identified for design and installation of offline leaching deep sump catch basins in Merrimac:

    • Ahearn Circle/West Shore Rd and Lake Avenue BMPs

    • Comer rain garden along West Shore Road

    • Lake Avenue rain garden – Boat ramp area

    • Plunge pool/sediment trap along West Shore Road

    • Three deep sump catch basins along West Shore Road

    • Retrofit detention basin West Shore Road for improved pollutant removal

    • Removal of pavement at end of West Shore Road

    • Installation of two leaching catch basins at end of Ahearn Circle cul-de-sac.

  • LAA initiated a comprehensive all-volunteer Invasive Plant Identification (Weed Watcher) Program to address the widespread presence of Water Chestnuts and Variable and Eurasian Milfoil.

  • Extensive lake study – by the EPA - report finalized. EPA scientist and lake resident Hillary Snook lead author. Report can be found in local libraries.

  • LAA hired Dr. Ken Wagner to make recommendations regarding how to reduce the HABs / cyanobacteria blooms. He reviewed 2014 EPA report and conducted extensive testing to determine sources of phosphorus.

  • Ken Wagner report finalized – whole lake alum treatment most feasible solution.

    LAA launched effort to apply for s.319 grant to fund $545,000 alum treatment. This involved major fund raising and advocacy / communication with leadership of the City of Amesbury and Town of Merrimac. ($218,000 non-federal match money needed to apply.

  • Funds raised and committed by the LAA, Amesbury, Merrimac and lake residents. Amesbury applied for s.319 grant June 2, 2017.

  • 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.

    Actual Project Cost: $400,671

    • USEPA: 240,402.67

    • Amesbury: $85,234

    • Merrimac: $41,912

    • LAA: $33,122