Waukewan advisory committee details site visit, seeks grants for boat-ramp remediation

The Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee reviewed findings from a May 21 site visit to the public boat launch ramp and said it will pursue grant funding to support remediation work.

Acting Chair Frank Murphy said engineers from Horsley Witten led an on-site, interactive review attended by Select Board representatives Lynn Leighton and Mike Pelczar, DPW Director Craig Hale, a Water Department representative and committee members. Murphy said the engineering team suggested a range of remediation options and that a written report is expected in several weeks.

Committee members also noted a large, discolored, water-filled retention pit between the Water Department property and the railroad tracks that they agreed should be independently evaluated. “We observed a significantly sized, grossly discolored retention pit,” the committee record states; members asked for an independent assessment to determine cause and risk.

Murphy said initial discussions with FBE are underway to coordinate preparation and submission of grant applications and that committee representatives have consulted with NHDES grant experts about potential funding pathways. No formal funding decision was made at the meeting; members said they would review the engineer report and proceed with grant development thereafter.

The committee did not record a formal vote on project financing during the meeting. The engineering report and further grant planning are expected to inform next steps and any required permitting or contractor procurement.