Highway director outlines Seeley Beach stormwater project; commission to explore related beach replenishment permit

Highway Director Rich O'Hanley told the Sandown Recreation Commission on May 6 that an engineered stormwater-treatment system at Seeley Beach is permitted and slated to begin soon, and he said crews plan to complete the work before summer programs begin. "It's supposed to get the phosphorus out from going in the lake to help keep those numbers down," O'Hanley said, describing a small inlet and a roughly 6‑inch pipe that routes runoff through a two‑stage filtration area before it reaches the lake.

Commission members raised site-specific concerns including a trip‑hazard stump and whether certain trees near the water would need removal. A member said, "That's a trip hazard," while O'Hanley said engineers prefer to retain larger trees where possible to help absorb water but can remove smaller trees if needed. He told the commission the project was submitted under a "permit by notification," that laminated copies of the permit have been signed and will be posted, and that he expects the construction itself to take "2 or 3 weeks." The permit timeline was discussed in the meeting (one speaker referenced a 2‑year period while another later said some permits can last up to 5 years), and members asked staff to confirm the effective permit duration.

Members also asked whether routine beach replenishment — adding sand to a ledge near the waterline — could be coordinated with the stormwater contractor to avoid duplicative equipment mobilization. The commission noted that sand placed close to the waterline requires a separate permit and asked staff to research whether the beach work could piggyback on the stormwater permit or would need its own application.

The commission discussed potential impacts to public access and camp operations during construction; O'Hanley said he prefers to do the work now, when scheduling allows, rather than at the end of the season when it would be more disruptive. Follow-up tasks assigned at the meeting included confirming the permit term, clarifying whether the beach replenishment can be combined with the stormwater contractor's visit, and identifying specific trees/stumps to remove or retain. The commission did not take a formal vote on the project during the meeting.