AWWA – Acton Wakefield Watershed Alliance. For over 20 years, this nonprofit has contributed greatly, with minimal support from our Wakefield yearly budget, to help save Wakefield’s number one tax asset, the lakes.
The list is too long to fit on this sheet of paper, but 3 examples of their hard work are Pine River Association Boat Launch, Clearwater Lane, and Pinewood Shores. All 3 of these locations were contributing substantial erosion and, consequently, cyanobacteria. Also, 20 failed septic systems, among endless other projects.
To put it in perspective, they have used their knowledge to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to bring money from the 319 Clean Water Act of 1987 to help preserve our tax base, the lakes. We have recently been contributing $40,000 a year to AWWA, except in 2023, when it was cancelled as part of the default budget vote. AWWA has been so good at raising 319 Clean Water Act money for Wakefield that in 2019, they received $100,000 and in 2024 another $180,000, which in both cases were among the largest amounts given to any entity in NH. Unfortunately, the current presidential administration is not funding this program. For more information on the great work AWWA has done for Wakefield over the last 20 years you can go to their website via this following link: https://awwatersheds.org/