Berms & Swales Clearing

Looking for a little exercise, good company, and volunteer work with a view? We’ll be clearing out the berms and swales along Chocorua Lake and we can always use extra hands. This is a great job for people who like to see what they’ve accomplished! And, if you like to swim at Chocorua, this is an opportunity to help keep the water pristine. On Tuesday, October 27, from 10 AM–12 PM, join Chocorua Lake Conservancy for Berms & Swales Stewardship at the Island at Chocorua Lake, just off of Route 16. The berms and swales that run along the highway beside the lake were put in 25 years ago, a method of best practices to slow and filter runoff from the highway into the lake. The berm, or higher ridge, was planted with shrubs, trees, and grass to help catch dust from the road. The swale, or ditch, was filled with gravel and larger stones to allow rainwater and runoff to percolate through and be filtered before reaching the lake. Both strategies help to keep the lake water clean and reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the lake.