The past few weeks have flown by like the Canada geese traveling north for the summer. Packed full of training, I am now ready to take on the various projects that await Anthony, my fellow Watershed Steward, and I over the months ahead. Anthony and I are Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified and, while I hope to never need those skills, it brings a sense of relief knowing I am prepared for anything, not only while serving on the Newfound Lake Region Association team, but also while exploring the beautiful parks, forests, and conservation areas of New Hampshire on my own.
Walking into this summer as a Watershed Steward for Newfound Lake Region Association, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect of my role as a Watershed Steward or even what to expect of the nearby communities. When learning that we would be expected to help host a booth at the Bristol Sustainability Fair, I was more than thrilled to have the opportunity assist with making newspaper seed starters and speak with the local residents about sustainable practices.
It has been beyond inspiring to serve a community that rallies around a beautiful body of water such as Newfound Lake and its vast watershed. Anthony and I met with several students and professors from the University of New Hampshire, who trained us and NLRA volunteers how to conduct routine water quality monitoring on Newfound Lake. Each week as Watershed Stewards, we are expected to work along-side community volunteer members to collect water quality samples from designated areas around Newfound Lake for analysis.
As the training slows down and we begin to get in a more normal routine, I am excited to start digging deeper into our individual projects, water quality monitoring, as well as continue to explore the watershed and surrounding areas in New Hampshire. Hopefully I’ll see y’all out on the water or hiking the trails!
