The Stocker Pond Association An historical perspective

In a note to the Association, Secretary Rouillard conveyed updates on two matters. In the first, he summarized a note from the Commissioner of Public Works who reported that the "foreign floatation" in the waters of Stocker Pond dropped from a count of 300-400 in the fall of 1968 to a count of 10, which the State considers "absolutely clear" water. The commissioner also said he was "keeping his fingers crossed over possible pollution damage from surface run-off this spring. Also there is the problem of the foreign floatation which was trapped by the freeze of water in the winter months. As the ice melts, this foreign floatation will again be released into the water."

On the subject of changing the name of Stocker Pond to Stocker Lake, Rouillard reported that many gyrations with the State Legislature were required including an end-run through the Rules Committee, a notoriously "tough bunch". While work would be required by the Public Works Department and the Water Resources Board to update their records of any name change, they said they would not oppose the proposal.

The spring melt in NH, better known as mud season, brought more than the usual inconveniences. As feared with the melting of ice and spring runoff down embankments that had little vegetation to hold the soils, the Pond was once again inundated by silt. Property owners were once again quite frustrated and wrote to the State.

Commissioner of Public Works Robert Whitaker responded that both Mr. Palazzi and the Department’s staff were "very much aware of the situation," but the slopes were still so waterlogged it was impossible to stabilize them at the current time, and until such stabilization had be achieved, there was no point to try to treat the waters of the Pond. He went on to say that "I assure you the neither the Palazzi firm nor the Department has any intention of shirking the commitments which were made to you last fall."

We summarize the highlights of the July meeting with full meeting minutes available for examination.

Officials in attendance included Commissioner of NH Public Works Robert H. Whitaker, director of Water Supply and Pollution Commission William Helie, Chief Biologist of the Water Supply and Commission Terrence Frost, John Palazzi of Palazzi Construction Company, Construction Engineer Charles Downing, and Area Engineer John McCorliss.

Mr. Palazzi explained "the experimentation conducted in his own pond above Stocker. Mr. Palazzi said that his company had bought the land and constructed an earthen dam to contain the water, similarly polluted with silt. He said the water was treated rather unsuccessfully with aluminum sulfate. He had hoped to use gypsum" but was unable to obtain it in a timely manner. "He said he’s conducting a test of treated water on fish life in his own pond, but it is much too soon for any results."

Other officials said that the refilling and seeding of the banks along the interstate would be completed within a day, but six weeks without heavy rain would be needed to obtain good grass growth. Commissioner Whitaker reiterated that the State and Mr. Palazzi "have done everything we know" to stabilize the slopes, but it was now a waiting game.

After officials left, Mr Heinzelmann reported that the Town’s Select board stated that they did not own any of Stocker Pond Road north of Don Cole’s property [the end of the pavement to date!]. Perhaps ownership would be placed on the Town’s warrant.

On December 17, 1969 the Secretary of State certified that the Articles of Agreement of the Property Owners’ Association of Stocker Pond had been filed in the Records of Voluntary Corporations, Volume 557, Page 469. See a copy of the official document together with the Articles of Incorporation.