I am now halfway through my AmeriCorps service term as an NLRA Watershed Steward. It has been quite an experience and I have learned so much. I am glad that we are getting out and about in the watershed and learning as we go. I have gotten more comfortable driving the boat, which came in handy when we needed to make an unscheduled stop at the gas station during routine water quality monitoring to have West Shore Marine look at a potential engine problem. From equipment issues to weather, it’s important to be able to be flexible and react to changing conditions. Thankfully, all went well, and we have had no issues since with the boat. I have also become proficient in using equipment and properly conducting water quality testing, which was intimidating when I started.
As AmeriCorps service members, Jenna, my fellow Watershed Steward, and I take on tasks with NLRA’s partners throughout the watershed. This recently included trail work on the Paradise Point Trail at NH Audubon’s Paradise Point Wildlife Sanctuary. It was nice to walk in another area of the watershed and see a different area of the lake. We performed routine trail maintenance, lopping vegetation that was growing into the paths. This task gave us an opportunity to try out Gaia GPS, an app that records what trails you’ve walked and photos you take while on that trail, so we could track the miles of trail we maintained and accurately report our service impact.
I also completed my first Guided Experience, monthly NLRA programs that are designed and led by Watershed Stewards to educate and engage with the area’s residents and visitors. My first Guided Experience was an introduction to orienteering. Participants learned how to navigate using a map and compass instead of a GPS. Orienteering was a skill I learned back in high school, and I was thrilled to relearn as well as teach this skill again. We held this event at the Hebron Town Forest, and it was a complete success, with a surprising number of people showing up and showing a lot of enthusiasm and asking good questions. Orienteering knowledge can help people get out and explore more of the watershed, and hopefully find a new appreciation for the many conserved areas that offer recreation while also protecting Newfound’s water quality. Future Guided Explorations and more NLRA programs can be found at NewfoundLake.org/events.
Another thing that I have been tasked with is a service term project. The purpose of the service term project is for Watershed Stewards to apply their individual interests and skills to a specific long-term project that promotes NLRA’s mission. The overarching goal of my service term project is to develop a set of resources that emphasize the connection between land use practices on water quality and fishery health. While studying fisheries at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, I spent a lot of time learning about the connection between water quality and fishery health, as well as how watershed management is very important to fish survival.
There is quite a bit still to come on the horizon, and I am excited to see what is in store for me in the coming weeks. Having reached the midpoint of my time here has helped me gain a new appreciation for the conservation work being done to help preserve local area treasures. This will be a vital experience for years to come, no matter where life takes me next.
