Tell us about yourself! Who are you and what is your mission?
New Hampshire is home to nearly 1,000 lakes—some of the most pristine lakes in the country. These irreplaceable natural resources are critical to our quality of life and the economy. But, our lakes face a growing number of threats, many of which could change these cherished waters forever—changing the way we recreate and relax and the way we do business.
The mission of NH LAKES is to keep New Hampshire’s lakes clean and healthy, now and in the future. We work with partners, promote clean water policies and responsible use, and inspire the public to care for our lakes.
Founded in 1992, we are the only statewide, nonprofit organization, working to keep all of New Hampshire’s 1,000 lakes clean and healthy. We advocate for lakes in the New Hampshire Legislature and we offer lake conservation programs and services to local lake association partners, boaters, and property owners throughout the state.
NH LAKES knows we all want to do the right thing to help keep the lakes they enjoy clean and healthy. But, we’ve found most people don’t know how their actions in their home, on their property, and along and on the lake affect the health of lakes. NH LAKES is here to help people care for the lake(s) they love.
What have you accomplished in our community?
Over the past 20 years, in partnership with the Newfound Lake Region Association, we have helped keep Newfound Lake free from invasive species. Invasive plants and animals degrade the health of a lake, disrupting the natural ecology, and making it unpleasant—and even dangerous—to recreate in. Invasive species are difficult and expensive to manage and almost impossible to get rid of once firmly established in a waterbody.
Through our Lake Host Courtesy Boat Inspection Program, we have provided part-time summer jobs for area residents to staff the boat ramps at Wellington State Park and NLRA’s Grey Rocks Conservation Area. Lake Hosts greet boaters at the boat ramp and teach them how to clean, drain, and dry their boats, trailers, and gear to prevent unwanted plants and animals from hitchhiking their way into the lake. In addition to the employees we place at the boat ramps, NLRA rallies volunteers from the community to serve as Lake Hosts. Since 2002, Lake Hosts have prevented 28 fragments of invasive plants—including milfoil—from being launched into the pristine waters of Newfound Lake. Considering that it can take just one boat with one fragment of an invasive plant to cause a widespread problem in the lake, the Lake Host Program is critical at Newfound.
What do you want to accomplish next?
Through our new statewide LakeSmart Lake-Friendly Living Program, NH LAKES looks forward to working with NLRA and you to make lake-friendly living the norm within the Newfound Lake watershed. Working in partnership with NLRA in the coming summers, NH LAKES will help integrate the LakeSmart Program into the good work already being done through NLRA’s Stormwater Assessment Program and Youth Conservation Corps.
How can people get involved?
Our lakes can’t take care of themselves—everyone has a part to play! If you care about New Hampshire’s lakes, we encourage you to get involved in their care by living in a lake-friendly way through the LakeSmart Program. LakeSmart is an education, evaluation, and recognition program that is free, voluntary, and non-regulatory. The first step is to take an on-line self-assessment. For more information, and to take the survey, visit nhlakes.org/lakesmart. And, if you are interested in volunteering as a Lake Host, reach out to NLRA’s Program Manager Andrew Veilleux at Andrew@NewfoundLake.org.
