Getting to Know Us

Lake Harmony Watershed Preservation Group 

....uniting members of our community and making a difference through preservation...

Click to Donate

The goal of the Lake Harmony Watershed Preservation Group (LHWPG) is to protect, maintain, and improve the integrity of the Lake Harmony watershed. We are a nonprofit organization supported entirely by charitable donations. Your contributions fund the scientific, educational, research, and preservation initiatives necessary to ensure that the Lake Harmony watershed and its surrounding community continue to thrive.

We strive to unite homeowners, businesses, vacationers, renters, guests, and visitors—because only together can we find the most effective solutions for preserving the long-term health of the watershed. As residents and property owners, you know that Lake Harmony is a unique environment that blends natural beauty with abundant community amenities. Let’s work together to protect this natural treasure for future generations.

Why Do We Need Healthy Watersheds?

Although Earth is covered by water, 40–50% of the nation’s waters are impaired or threatened. An “impaired” waterbody is one that no longer supports its intended uses—such as drinking, swimming, fishing, or wildlife habitat.

The leading causes of watershed impairment include:

• Sediment
• Bacteria
• Excess nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus)

While nutrients occur naturally, too much—especially in a poorly managed watershed—can accelerate algae and plant growth, degrade water quality, and destabilize ecosystems. Sediment clogs fish gills and smothers habitat, while bacteria often signal the presence of additional viruses or pollutants. Common sources include erosion, stormwater runoff, animal or human waste, and failing or overflowing sewer systems.

Healthy watersheds support life and local economies. More than $450 billion in food production, tourism, and manufactured goods depend on clean water (U.S. EPA). Protecting a lake, stream, or river requires managing the entire watershed that drains into it. Informed communities make better environmental decisions—and healthy watersheds depend on that shared understanding.

The Lake Harmony Watershed

Lake Harmony is a natural glacial lake with a very low watershed-to-basin ratio and no significant inflow streams. Its hydrology is supported primarily by rainfall runoff and natural springs. This results in a very slow flushing rate, meaning that nutrients and other materials entering the lake tend to remain, settle, and accumulate over time—fueling algae and aquatic plant growth.

According to Hanover Engineering (2015):

• The primary sources of sediment are uncontrolled stormwater flows, especially from dirt and gravel roads lacking adequate stormwater controls.
• Steep slopes surrounding the lake were developed with little consideration for stormwater management. Runoff from homes, lawns, and roadways carries pollutants directly into the lake—including soil, organic matter, fertilizers, pesticides, roadway materials, and animal waste.
• Preventing erosion and sedimentation is critical to avoiding degraded water quality, excessive algae and plant growth, and increased turbidity.

Effective stormwater management throughout the watershed is essential to protecting Lake Harmony’s long-term health.

How You Can Help

Let’s work together to protect the Lake Harmony watershed today and for the future. Explore our website to learn about:

• The history of the lake
• Current scientific and engineering reports
• Ongoing restoration and maintenance projects
• Ways you can contribute to our efforts

We also invite you to attend our annual meeting and share your feedback through our Contact Us     Contact Us page. Your involvement is vital to the continued improvement and preservation of Lake Harmony.

www.lhwpg.org home