[fatlazyless]

For the past three summers it was pretty standard to see the bright orange NH-DES signs attached to a wood stake and posted into the sand near the waterline at Weirs beach, every 150' or so. It's been a State of NH practice to test and post the signs so the public will know about the water they are getting into. Closing a public beach is a decision made by the local town. The DES posts the signs, but it is a town's decision if it chooses to close it. I have noticed that while the Town of Waterville Valley decided to close their town beach on Corcoran's Pond last summer, after the DES orange signs went up, and on Lake Winnipesaukee, the City of Laconia decided to no longer charge the ten dollar admission and just let people decide for themselves if they wanted to swim in the Weirs Beach waters posted for e-coli with the orange DES signs.The NH Dept of Environmental Services, locally based directly next to the Lake Winnisquam boat launch, in a closed down waste water treatment plant, would travel around the state and perform swimming area water tests for e-coli and other problems.

Most recently, like within the last month, the super Republican majority that now has the leadership of both the NH state senate and house were reported to be working on new legislation to change the way that the NH Dept of Environmental Service does its job. Pending changes to be made include rewriting the Shoreline Protection Act, and eliminating the DES inspections of local swimming areas like the beach at Weirs Beach.

So, if this law gets passed, then there will be no more swimming water inspections, no orange signs posted into the beach, and presumably because no one knows about it, there will be no more water bacteria problems.

"WARNING - No Lifeguard on Duty - Swim at your own Risk" is what the 3' x 4' town sign at the Lake Waukewan, Town of Meredith, town beach was saying yesterday when I drove past. So, if the state stops doing their water-bacteria inspections and posting orange warning signs, it is a very safe bet that the town sign will not be updated to say "WARNING - No Lifeguard on Duty - Swim at your own Risk - Testing for Bacteria Discontinued!"

But then again, in the interest of public safety, maybe the town will decide to inform the public that "Testing for Bacteria has been Discontinued!" It's the town's decision?