Freedom—December 10, 2025—The N.H. Department of Safety (DOS) has approved Wabanaki Campground’s application for a 31-mooring congregate mooring field. The decision will now go to the Governor and Executive Council for review and a vote. A review date has not been announced.
In its decision, DOS said the new moorings would “not have a negative impact on the environment and public safety.” The applicant demonstrated “a sufficient present need” for the moorings, the ruling stated.
If approved by the Governor and Council, the mooring field, combined with dock slips approved by DES in August, would increase Wabanaki’s legacy watercraft total by 35%, create the highest ratio of boats-to-camping lots among Ossipee Lake campgrounds, and have the highest annual rental fee, at $500 per season.
Six lake and conservation organizations opposed the application. They said Wabanaki’s submission of separate dock and mooring applications to separate agencies revealed a State regulatory loophole in which two approvals that appear on the surface to be reasonable can produce an unreasonable outcome when combined.
They said approval would likely result in campgrounds and condominium associations copying Wabanaki’s “double dip” application strategy to increase their boat count.
Freedom Conservation Commission urged DOS by letter to evaluate the combined increase in boats “through a single, integrated water-quality lens rather than in separate siloed approvals.”
“Boat-to-unit ratios and clustering patterns matter for localized water-quality stress,” the letter stated.
Green Mountain Conservation Group pointed to increased turbidity and nutrient loading, increased propeller wash and wake effects, and the potential for long-term degradation of water quality, among its concerns.
Both groups urged DOS to defer a decision until DES’s Water Division could conduct a review specifically focused on the impact to water quality, and compatibility with the environmental goals of Freedom’s Master Plan, the latter of which is a State law requirement.
DOS said simply that DES had reviewed the application and concluded there would be no adverse environmental impact. It called concerns about copycat applications from campgrounds and condo associations “speculative.”
“The objections do not outweigh the petitioner’s right to this mooring field because they have satisfied the legal criteria to obtain a congregate mooring field,” DOS concluded.
Wabanaki began expanding boat capacity in 2023 after revealing to town officials that it planned to seek approval to sell campsite lots as part of a cooperative. The ability to accommodate boaters was part of its sales pitch to the public. The interest of potential purchasers in having a boat exceeded the 31 moorings that were legally in place for decades.
Neighbors of the campground said the number of boats at the site doubled to as many as 60 after unapproved docks were installed in 2023 and 2024.
DES instructed Wabanaki to remove the docks at around the same time that DOS revoked the campground’s mooring permit after learning the business had changed hands as part of planning for the co-op. Congregate mooring permits cannot be transferred. Separate applications for docks and moorings were submitted in April.
September Hearing
The campground’s owner and family members spoke in favor of the moorings at a hearing in September. Others spoke for and against the application, and DOS later said it received 14 letters. Five letters were in support, and nine were opposed.
DOS said that “substantial weight” was given to the testimony and letters. But the agency appeared to put particular stock in Marine Patrol Officer Frank Balantic’s recommendation that the application be approved.
“I support this application for 31 moorings in combination with the pending plan for docks,” Balantic wrote in his report after a site visit in June.
Balantic said “the capacity is well absorbed by the available space and frontage of the property,” and there would be no water safety issues and “little negative impact on the environment.”
DOS said Balantic’s site visit and report were “thorough.” But in a letter to DOS, Ossipee Lake Alliance called the site visit “insufficient,” and said Balantic’s endorsement of the application was “one-sided and arbitrary.”
The group said Balantic spoke only to the applicant, and he appeared to be unaware of the complaints about water safety that neighbors made in 2023 and 2024 after the combination of docks and moorings created what they called “marina-like conditions.”
“The Officer’s failure to discuss these issues with any of the neighbors makes his endorsement of the application less than fully credible, as it relies on just one side of the story,” the letter concluded.
The Alliance said it sought help from elected officials after it became clear that DOS and DES would not agree to jointly assess the combined impact of the two applications.
The Alliance told the elected officials they believed a compromise solution could be found that would be acceptable to the campground, its neighbors and conservation groups. The group said it did not receive a response.
This author has now written 24 articles about our campground over the last 2 years, so I believe I am entitled to a published reply.
A complaint was filed by a neighbor, with the help of this organization, for the number of rv/trailers in the state shoreland protection area. That complaint was addressed, review by the state and a decision issued stating compliance. The article on that approval was all negative.
A complaint was filed about the number of slips. Instead of making a preexisting argument based on fact that docks have been at the camp for about 60 years, I made the decision to file for approval, which was granted by the state for 11 slips. The article on that approval was all negative. Every article about that the Planning Board process was negative.
I had to file for re-approval of moorings because of a change of ownership (from 9 siblings to 1 but still same family). That approval for continued use of 31 moorings was granted. Now this article. What do you want from me?
As an fyi, the two agencies responsible for slips and moorings DID discuss with each other and render opinions based on both filings. The original mooring application (in the 90s) showed two docks which is assumed to hold 6 boats, so at most, we went from 37 to 41 boats.
I find it disingenuous that you rely on your own letter to DES as some kind of proof in this article that DES ignored an opposition to the mooring application! That is like saying to the reader, do you believe they wouldn’t listen to me? Stop being a poor loser and give me some credit for compliance.
With this continuous barrage of negativity, especially after spending the time and money to obtain approvals, along with other negative articles about an innocent seaplane operator and other victims, I have to question the true mission of this organization. I have to ask the donors to this organization if they realize how their donations are being spent, especially considering the hiring of a law firm to oppose our efforts to comply with regulations.
I am trying to maintain an affordable way for people to enjoy the lake responsibly and for our family and friends to continue to enjoy the place they all grew up.
I invite any reader, as I have in the past, to visit the campground to see for themselves. My email is attysalvati@comcast.net if you would like to ask questions or have a look.
Mark, thank you for posting. Your comments are always welcome. Negativity is in the eye of the beholder. We have covered your business as we would cover any other major business whose operations impact the lake environment and the surrounding community. We know of no errors in our reporting, and we have asked you to let us know if anything we report is wrong so we can correct it. As you know, we are not alone in questioning whether the State’s process for determining the cumulative impact of docks and moorings is sufficient. In addition to us there is Green Mountain Conservation Group, Freedom Conservation Commission, Broad-Leavitt Bay Association, Friends of Ossipee Lake, and Berry Bay Association. A letter was sent to DOS by the head of a seventh group who was speaking on his own. That’s a lot of concern spread broadly around the area, and we assume you were provided with their letters. Our article was clear that you did nothing wrong with the applications, and that the concerns are with the State’s process. While it’s clear that DES and DOS communicated with one another, they did not collaborate on a decision because they were not required to. Whether or not that’s a problem is worthy of debate, but no one that we know of is questioning your actions in regard to the applications. Most importantly, we urged elected officials months ago to explore whether a comprise in the total number of boats could be derived to satisfy all parties. Their failure to so is perhaps the real takeaway from this article. By the way, we have never written a news story about seaplanes in our 23 years of reporting the lake news. Regards, David
A couple of thoughts. As I have said before, the state doesn’t care enough about its lakes to address obvious issues. The legislature dinged a bill a few years ago that would have allowed creative inter-agency problem solving, and that was truly a shame for which we are still paying the price. This boat thing seems like it was a perfect opportunity for discussions and a compromise rather than everyone digging in their heels. It’s a small world on Ossipee Lake. Everyone is connected in one way or another, but cooperation is in short supply. It’s the spirit of the times that in every case someone has to win and someone has to lose. That’s not the way it should work. This boat thing should have been resolved over a couple of beers and a give and take so that everyone would walk away with a “win” and move on. I blame elected officials for not trying to make that happen before it got to this sad point.
As a camper of Wabanaki I do not appreciate the continuous negative rhetoric surrounding what Mark is or isn’t doing. I know Mark personally and he is a true Renaissance man. He has tried his absolute best to appease the neighbors and the community. Truly what I think is going on here is petty behavior and not so much trying to protect Ossipee Lake.
What is it going to take to make people realize what they are doing to our lake? It makes perfect sense the more boats you put in our lake the more it becomes a swamp of congestion. As it is trying to go down the channel is like nyc. It’s only going to get worse not to mention what all these boats are doing to the environment, the water, the erosion of the land, and all it is is about money. It’s shameful. Wake up people. It’s your lake!
Wow! 24 articles!!! It’s so wonderful to see that your absolute harassment of Wabanaki is finally coming to an end. The poisonous misinformation that you kept on regurgitating in an attempt to discredit our business, failed.
Would anyone care to read actual facts about our campground? Anyone?
Wabanaki is the third version of campground at this beautiful property. The main house was built in 1885 by the Pascoe family. Later it was transformed to Camp Welsley for Boys, then evolved into Camp Winnemont for Girls.
The campground was then purchased in the early 60’s by Elmer Franson, a second generation Swedish immigrant, a WWII veteran, a father to nine children and grandfather to twenty six – one of which is me. My family has been operating this campground for over 60 years, longer than the other two combined. He started the business with his children as his help, including his son, a veteran who served in the Vietnam War. The tradition of family being the help continued to the next generation, and the generation after. Currently, five generations of my family have worked at Wabanaki Campground. We have provided a very family oriented, vintage camping experience these past decades. Many things have stayed the same, more than things have changed. In fact – we still have original campers from the 60’s that have stayed with us for the entirety.
I have been in the community for 45 years and have noticed some things. Such as, several pop up businesses that don’t use a foundation making use of the tax free loop hole. I also can’t help but notice the multitude of religious campgrounds.
Our company did not operate under these conditions. Wabanaki Campground has been financially ethical for its entire existence. In fact, I have the confidence to say we fall right behind Camp Cody in paying the most taxes. Also, Wabanaki Campground supports many of the local businesses. We provide donations to the Ossipee Fire station, accruing thousands upon thousands of dollars over time. We buy our appliances from Baron’s, rather than going cheaper at Home Depot or Lowe’s. We hold a business accounts with Skeehan’s and Aubuchun’s. All of our campers know who the locals are that provide cords or wood. We send our campers to The Spot because we love having that little store so close to our business. We tell our campers to go to Lakefront Landing for gas and also give them Mark’s number when shrinkwrap season is upon us. I have made many suggestions to campers for local businesses over the years – Rosie’s, Bobby Sue’s, Elderidge, The Spot, Saphouse, Farm to Table, Tramway, Silver Lake Train, Ski Works, Market in the Pines, Sunoco, Kevin’s .. don’t even get me started on how many tee times people affiliated with Wabanaki have booked at Indian Mound. We tell our campers where to go! Seeing the community thrive helps all of us.
Also, in regards to the acreage across the campground that is deemed a conservation area. It has been in my family for over 60 years, and remains wild and untouched. The Ossipee Snowmobile Club certainly appreciates that we let them in our forest without hassle.
My family loves this community and has been generating income for it for 5 generations. The level of distain you hurl at us is wildly inappropriate and undeserved.
My family is ethical and we have worked very hard at maintaining this wonderful, idyllic campground to the best of our ability. And let me tell you – it is work. Sweat pouring, back hurting, bug biting, grueling labor. Speaking of ethical – you should look it up. All of your misinformation, exaggerations and lies – didn’t work.
[Editor’s Note: Section deleted to remove personal attacks on unrelated third parties].
I’m so pleased that this is finally coming to an end. It’s all so .. gross. As my Nana, Janice Franson, an original CEO of Wabanaki, would say, “Don’t let the truth stand in the way of a good story.”
Wabanaki Campground has been an asset to this community and will continue to do so.
I hope karma is swift – and all the negative aggression you have so diligently applied to my family – comes back to you in threefold.
I’m going to rename my boat ‘Summer Wins’ so when you see me in the channel – be sure to wave at me.
Have a great winter everyone – summer is going to be lovely next year, I can feel it 🩷
As a life long camper at Ossipee Lake. I started at Wabanaki, then spent the last 25 years at Westward Shores only to be fed up with the corporation over camping feel, which brought me back to Wabanaki. To see this site attack this campground after what I witnessed WWS do by expanding from 200 sites to 600 sites, parking boats and jet skis everywhere is funny. It makes you realize corporations that can buy favor and opinions stand better in your eyes than a small business who caterers to the old camping feel of community. I wonder how long this author has actually been on this lake. Activitists come and go. Time for you to go back to wherever you came from.
Regarding your question, on the lake since 1958. Reporting on the lake for 23 years.