WILTON – SoRLAC (Souhegan River Local Advisory Committee) has launched a concerted effort to get a renewal of its 2006 Souhegan River Watershed Management Plan.

Cory Ritz of New Ipswich, chairman of the committee, following up on a recent presentation at the Collaborative Center, said, “The Management Plan provides a holistic accounting of the best practices, trends, and on-going areas of concerns. SoRLAC has created a set of goals for a renewal of the plan and has been actively planning the next steps. Part of the plan includes hearing from our stakeholders, those who live, work and play near or on the Souhegan River.”

The committee has created a public survey. “It’s a quick 10-minute survey with the hope of hearing how we will use the river and what issues are important,” Ritz said

To take part in the survey visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GSYJHWB or contact your local member of the committee. In Wilton, that is Conservation Commission Member Bill Mahar.

SoRLAC includes all the town along the 32 miles of the river from New Ipswich to Merrimack. The watershed covers about 220 square miles including parts of Temple, Lyndeborough, Mont Vernon, and Ashby and Ashburnham, Mass., where the river rises, about 35,000 people.

The Department of Environmental Services (DES) approved an Interim Flow Plan in 2008, the first plan accepted under the River Management Protection Act.in 2008.

The Souhegan is a state-designated protected river.

The new plan covers such areas as stream crossings, outdoor lighingt, salt and sand storage areas and parking lot islands which can affect run-off into the river. Also included are wildlife-friendly erosion control, seeding (using native plants) for bank stabilization, planting trees and shrubs along the shoreline instead of managed turf,,and storm-water infiltration areas, “water gardens.”

All storm drains are to be marked, reminding people that they lead to the river and not to dump waste into them.

Some of Wilton’s storm drains have been marked with murals painted by local high school students. More of those are planned.

SoRLAC works closely with the Nashua Regional Planning Commission.

Ritz said, “We will be actively pursuing 2023 Water Quality Planning 604(b) and Watershed Assistance 319 grants.

For information visit the SoRLAC website.