Newbury, n.h.
More than a dozen of the roughly 60 people in attendance addressed the 15-member commission, passionately expressing their views that either Wild Goose is the only option to increase boat access on the lake or it is too costly, presents a vehicle safety issue and that improving the boat launch and channel at Sunapee State Beach, about a mile north of Wild Goose, is a better idea.
Initially proposed for car top craft only in 1991, the Wild Goose project on New Hampshire Fish and Game property has been fiercely debated for more than 25 years. In August, Gov. Chris Sununu pulled a renewal of wetlands permit for Wild Goose from the Executive Council agenda, which effectively killed the $2 million project. He then formed the commission, which is charged with finding a solution to increasing boat access on the lake, with a report due on March 1.
June Fichter, president of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, said the issue is not access, as there are five launches on the lake, but rather inadequate parking at those locations.
“We have plenty of ramps but it is the parking,” Fichter said. “So for about $2 million, Fish and Game gains about 40 additional parking spaces at Wild Goose.”
But with all the issues surrounding the site, in addition to cost, Fichter said the “smarter, logical” solution would be at the state beach.
“I encourage the commission to encourage Fish and Game and parks to work together to improve the state beach site for trailer parking,” she said.
State Rep. Dan Wolf, R-Newbury, said the Wild Goose is “unsafe” and the state beach could be developed at one-third the cost of Wild Goose.
“I implore you to do what is environmentally sensitive, physically safe and fiscally responsible,” Wolf said to the commission.
Newport resident Howard Dunn didn’t agree that the state beach is a viable option.
Dunn said the popular swimming area, which drew 45,000 visitors last summer, needs to be protected from this kind of boat access and Wild Goose is the best location. Additionally, he said, it would take years to obtain wetlands, dredging, alteration of terrain and other permits for the beach area.
“I don’t think Lake Sunapee Beach could be developed because of all the problems,” Dunn said. “If you (the commission) vote against Wild Goose, you are voting against access ever happening because I don’t think there is another place for it.”
Supporters of Wild Goose argued that failure to develop the site as proposed — with two ramps and parking for about 30 vehicles with trailers plus 10 more — is in violation of state law mandating that Fish and Game provide public access on state lakes.
“Twenty-eight years and we can’t get on that lake and it is our water, just as much as theirs,” said Reginald Dodge, of Newport. “It is a law. They have to give access. This is sickening.”
Dodge also said it is a case of lakefront property owners not wanting more people using the lake.
But Ed Thorson, chairman of the Newbury Selectboard, and New London Town Administrator Kim Hallquist said their town’s opposition has to do with motor vehicle safety.
“That is political baloney people spread around,” Thorson said about claims the town doesn’t want to allow more people to enjoy the lake. “The Selectboard is not opposed to access on the lake, but we are opposed to Wild Goose for safety issues.”
He cited a state Department of Transportation report that called the sight lines entering Route 103 from Birch Grover Road “severely inadequate.”
Hallquist said New London could not back Wild Goose unless those safety issues are corrected.
“Our police chief and fire chief have joined in as well, feeling that the access points are not safe at this time and the risk that exposes the citizens that would be traveling on (Route) 103, as well as using this boat launch, is too great for them to be in favor of this,” Hallquist said.
State Rep. Peter Hansen, R-Amherst, who has introduced a bill to fund the Wild Goose project, said the safety issues could easily be addressed by lowering the speed limit to 30 from 50 mph and by installing a flashing light triggered when a car is exiting Birch Grove Road.
“We can make it safer if we have to,” Hansen said.
The commission, which toured both sites before the meeting and did not respond to any comments, will convene again at 9 a.m. on Dec. 14 in the legislative office building in Concord.
“We need to come together and figure out a way forward,” commission chairman Neil Levesque said before the meeting began. “We need a solution.”
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
