CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New England District, will host an open house Aug. 25, 2026, in Contoocook, New Hampshire, to share details on draft revisions to the 1978 Hopkinton-Everett Lakes Master Plan.
The open house will run from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hopkinton Town Library, 61 Houston Drive, Contoocook. There will be no formal presentation, and members of the public are invited to visit at any point during the session to interact with USACE staff. The open house will cover proposed changes to the current Master Plan. Team members will share instructions on how to submit comments, answer questions and gather public feedback. A 30-day public comment period will begin Aug. 25, 2026, and end Sept. 25, 2026.
Master Plan Overview
A Master Plan is a strategic land-use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all recreational, natural and cultural resources throughout the life of a water resource development project. It defines how USACE will manage these resources for public use and conservation.
The current Hopkinton-Everett Lakes Master Plan needs revision to address changes in regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends and USACE management policy. Key topics to be discussed in the revised Master Plan include revised land-use classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs, and special issues such as invasive species management and threatened and endangered species habitat. The Master Plan revisions will not address the technical and operational aspects of the lake related to flood risk management or the water conservation missions of the project.
Submitting Comments & Reviewing Draft Plans
Comments must be submitted in writing at the open house or digitally via the comment form on the Master Plans webpage.
The 30-day public comment period begins Aug. 25, 2026, and ends Sept. 25, 2026. The draft plans can be reviewed at: https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/missions/recreation/hopkinton-everett-lake/hopkinton-everett-lake-master-plan/
During the 30-day public comment period, comments can also be emailed to HopkintonEverettLakes@usace.army.mil.
On Aug. 25, the website will also feature digital copies of the draft Master Plan, Environmental Assessment and associated documents, a comment form with instructions, and a downloadable presentation covering the topics highlighted at the open house.
About Hopkinton-Everett Lakes
Hopkinton-Everett Lakes, located in Hopkinton, Henniker, Dunbarton and Weare, New Hampshire, on the Contoocook and Piscataquog rivers, is part of a network of flood damage reduction projects in the Merrimack River Basin. While the primary purpose of Hopkinton-Everett Lakes is to provide flood damage reduction, the project has also become a recreational hotspot.
With miles of trails for mountain biking, walking, snowmobiling and off-road vehicles, as well as opportunities for hunting, fishing, boating and developed recreation at Elm Brook Park and Clough State Park, the lakes accommodate a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the natural resources at Hopkinton-Everett Lakes for multiple uses: flood risk management, wildlife habitat, forestry, watershed protection and outdoor recreation. Hopkinton-Everett Lakes receives approximately 450,000 visits per year.