Bayard Tracy Honored by NH LAKES

On July 27, 2024, Tracy, former President of the Spofford Lake Association was named the 23rd recipient  of the John F. Morten award.   With over 30 letters of support from a broad range of entities  including the Chesterfield Conservation Commission, Town Select Board members, FB Environmental, reps from the State, and friends and residents of Chesterfield.  Below are the reasons Tracy took home the prize.

Board of Directors of the Spofford Lake Association

• nominate Bayard F. Tracy to receive the

  2024 John F. Morten Award for Exemplary Lake Stewardship

  Bayard moved to Spofford Lake (full-time) in 2005. Since then he has been active in the many volunteer programs of the Spofford Lake Association (SLA), its management, its engagement with the Town of Chesterfield as a partner in restoring and preserving Spofford Lake, and the coordination of local organizations to obtain grants to benefit Spofford Lake. He has devoted endless hours to the SLA and its mission, both as a leader in the Association and as a private citizen. His ability to listen to others, plead his case in adverse situations, and to compromise have been the key to positive change for Spofford Lake.

  Of the challenges facing those who live on and/or love the Lake, Bayard writes: “Spofford Lake is changing…… Our challenge, collectively, is to protect and sustain the Lake's health, notwithstanding the man-made and natural changes to it over the past century. Our individual challenge is to act in ways that help the Lake today and tomorrow. All of us, in even very small ways, can make a difference.” (From Our Challenge, SLA website.)  We believe he personally rises to this challenge on an almost daily basis.

  Here are the reasons why Bayard would make an excellent recipient of your exemplary lake stewardship award:

  Service to the SLA:

  Bayard was elected to the SLA Board in 2007. He has served as Treasurer, Vice President, and three terms as President (one term from 2009 to 2012, and two consecutive terms from 2018 to the present).

  As an officer and member of the SLA, Bayard has supported and/or contributed to the following:

• Lake Host program. In cooperation with NH Lakes, the SLA has had this program in place for more than 20 years. Bayard encouraged local property owners to volunteer a few hours (thus increasing volunteer vs. paid hours) and gained the yearly financial support of the Chesterfield Conservation Commission (CCC). With greater funds the days and hours of operation have increased.
• Weed Watch program. Spofford has had dedicated weed watchers for 20+ years. Bayard suggested bringing NH aquatic invasive species coordinator, Amy Smagula, to Chesterfield to give a presentation so all residents would be better informed. As an insurance policy, the SLA, under Bayard’s leadership, has had a certified biologist check the lake every October for over a decade. 
• Water Quality Monitoring Program (WQMP). Bayard became an active volunteer in the WQMP in 2008 and for twelve years was one of three volunteers who together collected both the land and water samples, three times each summer. Bayard’s pontoon boat was the sample collection vessel. Indeed, he was out on a boat this past April (2023), at turnover, taking water samples. In 2022, during this current presidency, the WQMP testing expanded significantly. Inland testing sites and additional substance testing were added. When low dissolved oxygen was noted in lower depths, Bayard was responsible for the purchase of dissolved oxygen testing equipment by the SLA (around 2017). The WQMP now includes 30 testing stations (on our 732-acre lake), all the while increasing the frequency of the various tests. He has also persuaded the Town of Chesterfield to share the expenses of these tests with the SLA.
• Watershed Management Plan (WMP) (2018). Bayard was an active participant in securing an EPA 604 grant to fund the WMP. He and other SLA members undertook two projects prior to the WMP, one to collect data in 2012 on types and quantity of boats that plied the waters of Spofford and a second, in 2016, to conduct sonar/bathymetric test measuring the contours of the lake bottom. Both projects were pre-requisites for the WMP with the latter required to secure private funds.
• Lake Spofford Paleolimnology Report. The WMP lead the way to carrying out a core sediment analysis. Completed in 2020 by Plymouth State University, the core sediment analysis provided the scientific baseline for a better understanding of the history of the lake, and a foundation for future tests and management. Bayard raised the funds for the Paleolimnology Report by personally sending a letter to residents. He collected the funds, generously contributed himself, and saw to it that SLA funds were not compromised.
• Spofford Lake Preservation Fund (LPF). Bayard was the chief proponent and guiding force for the 2020 establishment of the fund. This is a war-chest to pay for necessary efforts to eradicate invasives species if and when they are located. Donors make tax-deductible contributions to the SLA which are earmarked for the LPF.  In addition, surplus monies from the SLA’s operating budget are regularly allocated to the LPF, which now stands at $125,000.
• NH 319 Stormwater Runoff Grants. Spofford’s WMP identified runoff as a key problem. Bayard worked with the Chesterfield Conservation Commission (CCC), the Board of Selectman, and the Southwest Region Planning Commission (SWRPC) to secure two NH 319 grants to remediate runoff.  Moreover, at his urging the SLA has partnered with the Town of Chesterfield to secure a Clean Water State Revolving Fund planning grant, to address runoff from a Town road (Pinnacle Springs) into the lake. Due to this application being an extra-budgetary expense, Bayard convinced the SLA to advance to the Town the necessary funds to make this come to fruition.
• SLA Website and Communications. Bayard promoted and oversaw the use of SLA funds to establish its first website in 2013 for the purpose of establishing timely communications and engagement with the community of Chesterfield. He was the website’s first webmaster.  Since that time, the website has been rebuilt (2021), and the outreach to members and neighbors (that are all like-minded Lake Lovers) has grown dramatically. Bayard has seen that the board and other SLA positions have been filled by individuals with writing and IT capabilities. As a result, the SLA now uses both social media and hard-copy mailings to keep all apprised of the condition of the Lake and the efforts being taken to improve and ‘repair’ it.  These efforts have contributed to an expanded membership base and greatly increased donations.

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  In Partnership with the Town of Chesterfield, Bayard has initiated or supported the establishment of:

• The Spofford Lake District Health Ordinance. This ordinance (put into effect in 2022) covers the proper installation and maintenance of septic systems around the Lake. In June 2023 Bayard presented  a program on this ordinance at the NH Lakes Congress… now other NH towns are following suit.
•  ‘Low-salt’ town and state roads around the Lake. Bayard reached out to Chesterfield’s BOS/Police Chief and to the DOT to minimize the impact of salt/phosphorous reaching lake waters.
• Control & Remediation of Invasive Species Expendable Trust (est. 2020). For four successive years, the Town of Chesterfield has, at Bayard’s urging, allocated $10,000 to the town trust. The trust is intended for remediation of any infestation of invasive aquatic species found in Spofford Lake.
• Watershed Committee. Established in 2021 by the BOS, Bayard is one of five members of this Town Committee whose purpose is to “provide recommendations that would preserve the quality of Spofford Lake to the Town of Chesterfield Board of Selectmen (BOS).” The committee meets every other Thursday. To date, a number of recommendations have been made and can be found on the SLA and Town websites. Work is ongoing.
• Chesterfield’s ad hoc Spofford Lake Education Committee (2012). Appointed by the BOS, this committee’s purpose was to educate lake residents on the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act. They wrote a letter that was mailed to all Lake District residents and was included in mailings to new residents as properties changed hands.
• Steep Slopes Regulation (2019). He supported an attempt to introduce a “Steep Slopes” regulation to minimize the impact of runoff from the watershed due to residential development.
• Chesterfield’s Permissible Fireworks Ordinance. Bayard was a proponent of the fireworks regulation (adopted by BOS 2017) whose purpose is safety and to curtail phosphorous-laden debris from falling into the lake.
• Repair of the Boat Ramp.  In December 2023, Bayard announced a plan to repair/refurbish the boat ramp. Because of the generous $80,000 contribution of lakeshore resident, the Town has agreed to allocate $100,000 of its ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds.  Together, these sums should cover the estimated costs. 
• Boat Ramp Refurbishment requests for ‘expressions of interest’ were sent to 5 engineering companies in mid-June (2024). 
• Runoff Management Ordinances.  In March 2024, 70% of residents in Chesterfield adopted 3 ordinances on pervious paving, surface water management, and driveway permits as tools to combat stormwater runoff.  As a member of the Town Watershed Committee, Bayard worked tirelessly to craft the ordinances and to convince the Planning Board of their need and efficacy.  In turn, he then worked to persuade residents to approve the measures at the ballot box.

In addition to all of the contributions of his daily time and talent, he has also been one of the largest donors of personal funds in support of our organization and its mission, “to protect, enhance and sustain the ecological, environmental and recreational character of Spofford Lake and the surrounding watershed.” If that is not enough, Bayard cares about day to day matters such as the best water softener to use to lessen sodium entering the lake, and the activity of the loons and eagles living here; he recognizes that data must be kept and posted.

Accordingly, we believe that Mr. Tracy has embodied the characteristics for which this award was established, and we whole heartedly recommend his nomination.  

Thank you for your consideration of our “lake hero.”

With Kind Regards,

Larry Robbins and Cindy Holton

on behalf of the SLA Board of Directors 

Tracy Feted by Senator Maggie Hassan

August 2024

Here's the link to Hassan's press release, https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-recognizes-bayard-tracy-of-spofford-as-augusts-granite-stater-of-the-month 

Page Updated  August 27, 2024