Water Co. Land Q&A
- How does the proposal for municipalization of the Hanover Water Works Company affect the Water Company land?
- What is significant about the land surrounding the reservoirs?
- Does the Water Company land have adequate protection from future development?
- Do we have an opportunity to consider permanent protection of the land?
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1. How does the proposal for municipalization of the Hanover Water Works Company affect the Water Company land?
The Hanover Conservation Council plans to continue to work vigorously toward the permanent protection of the Water Company land surrounding the reservoirs.
The Council believes that the proposal for the municipalization of the water company is a significant step forward in terms of equal ownership of the land resource. The proposal includes a reconstituted land management company with equal ownership by the Town of Hanover and Dartmouth College. Currently the Town holds 47.2% of the HWWC and its land, and the College has 52.8%. Focus on this proposal offers an excellent opportunity to explore the permanent long-term protection of the watershed land.
2. What is significant about the land surrounding the reservoirs?
The 1400 acres of watershed land feed the surrounding drinking water reservoirs, and comprise the largest undeveloped and ecologically-significant tract remaining in Hanover. The land supports well-managed forests, prime wildlife habitat, and excellent agricultural soils. It offers crucial connectivity between Lord’s Hill, Oak Hill and the Appalachian Trail (see map). The Council strongly agrees with the Town of Hanover’s Master Plan (2003) and Open Space Priorities Plan that this land should be permanently protected.
3. Does the Water Company land have adequate protection from future development?
We are concerned that state and local ordinances and current zoning do NOT provide adequate long-term protection against future development.
There are currently NO federal level regulations that protect the watershed lands or drinking water reservoirs in Hanover.
There are two state-level statutes:
- Env-Ws 386 “Rules for Protecting the Purity of Regulated Watersheds” which is for the protection of the Hanover reservoirs against point source pollution, such as sewage, garbage, and sawdust. It provides buffer protection of 75 feet from the reservoirs and any stream tributaries to Camp Brook and the reservoirs.
- NH Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (CSPA), RSA 483-B (1994, amended 2008). Provides shoreland protection of 250 feet around the high water mark of the reservoirs. Vegetative protection with natural woodland buffer zone (150 feet) and new waterfront buffer zone (50 feet).
Local Ordinance #17: (1973) “Regulations Relating to the Public Health,” was adopted by Hanover Board of Selectman and is designed to protect the public drinking water and watershed area. The ordinance prohibits: bathing, boating, fishing, traversing ice or cutting ice in the reservoirs, and entering without right upon any land of the watershed area.
The local zoning designation is Forestry & Recreation which potentially allows certain uses such as agriculture and seasonal dwellings. This zoning can be changed by town vote.
4. Do we have an opportunity to consider permanent protection of the land?
Now is the time to engage in an open dialogue to explore available conservation options. The community has expressed keen interest in this land, its protection, and in potential public use. We propose that the Council, Town of Hanover, Dartmouth College and interested citizens work in partnership to plan for protection of this critical watershed land for everyone’s benefit now and for the future.
The Council believes the open discussion of the proposal is an important step forward and provides the opportunity to explore future possibilities for stronger land protection, consistent with the Council’s mission and the stated aims of the Town Master Plan and Open Space Priorities Plan.
