The City of Dover, in cooperation with the NH Department of Environmental Services, today announced that Willand Pond has been reopened. On June 12TH, 2009, the City and DES had noted that the public should refrain from using Willand Pond due to higher than normal bacteria levels. UNH Professor Jim Haney had previously collected water samples from the boat launch area located at Willand Pond. His samples indicated an elevated cyanobacteria cell concentration. Samples revealed that the state standard of 50% or greater of the total cells from the bloom was identified as cyanobacteria. According to John Carlson, City of Dover Health Officer the State and UNH have continued to monitor the water at Willand Pond and Tuesday the Pond was sampled and found the cyanobacteria levels where within the acceptable standard and so the ban has been lifted.
Carlson noted, that all three agencies, the City, State of NH and UNH, will continue to monitor the Pond. The State and UNH will also continue to sample the water from time to time in order to ensure that the public health is maintained at a high level.
This is the second time that Willand Pond was closed for cyanobacteria. The first occurrence ran from June to October of 2007. There were no issues in 2008. The City has been working with the City of Somersworth, NH DES and residents to react to a DES issued action letter dated October 2007. in that letter the State urged the cities to work together to deal with recent high water issues and the contamination.
In 2008 the City of Dover retained SW Cole to perform a geotechnical survey of the watershed and develop an understanding of the causes and effect of the higher water levels. Additionally, SW Cole provided recommendations to alleviate some of the concerns. City staff is working on the recommendations at this time.
For further information please contact John Carlson, the City of Dover Health Officer at (603) 516-6038
