News from Newfound

January 21, 2022

Welcome to the Newfound Connection

Each edition of the Newfound Lake Region Association newsletter features events, news, trivia, and the people of the watershed—everything a Newfounder needs to know!

Ice-In on Newfound!

Ice-in has been called for Newfound Lake! This year's ice-in date is Wednesday, January 19.

It's Snowmobile Season

The recent winter storm left enough snow behind for one of Newfound's popular winter activities to begin: snowmobiling. Snowmobiling in the watershed is made possible by conservation, hard-working volunteers, and strong public and private partnerships. Learn more about the connections that make this classic winter sport possible, plus tips and tricks to enjoy and protect the watershed by sled:

Snowmobiling in the Watershed - Newfound Lake Region...

With scenic views, vast stretches of wilderness, and active local clubs keeping trails in top condition, the Newfound watershed is a snowmobiling destination.

Read more
newfoundlake.org

Now Accepting Applications!

Education and Outreach Manager

The Education and Outreach Manager oversees all education initiatives and programs under the direction of the Executive Director. They manage education programs, collaborate with NLRA partner organizations, coordinate NLRA's Newfound EcoTours, and deliver programming to area schools. Learn more.

Newfound AmeriCorps/Watershed Stewards

Serve the Newfound watershed and gain hands-on conservation experience as a Watershed Steward through a region-wide AmeriCorps program. Advance NLRA's conservation mission while gaining important skills and experiences for the field of conservation and beyond. Learn more.

Where Does the Snow Go?

Snow can contain trash, nutrients, and other pollution. When it melts, that pollution can enter our waterways. Follow the tips below from NH LAKES to decrease snow melt pollution.

Tips for Lake-Friendly Snow Storage and Removal - NH LAKES

Did you know that improper snow storage and removal practices can damage lake quality? Snow often contains trash, nutrients, sediment, salt, sand, and pollutants from vehicles. When space for snow storage is limited, some businesses and residents may plow snow into wetland and stream areas—some may even plow snow right into rivers and lakes! These practices often cause violations of state water quality standards and degrade the health of our waterbodies.

Landowners are responsible for the snow removal practices that are conducted on their property. Here are some tips that will help you protect the quality of your local lake, while allowing you to “dig-out” after the snowstorms that are surely headed our way.

Avoid blocking culverts and catch basin inlets, vegetated swales, and stone-lined drainage channels with plowed snow. Storing snow in these areas can cause flooding.
Avoid plowing snow onto bare soil and dirt roads that are unstable or steep. The ability of these surfaces to absorb snow melt is very low. Plowing snow onto these areas could cause soil erosion and generate polluted runoff water.
Plow snow only off of hard surfaces that do not absorb water, such as driveways and walkways. Do not plow snow off of vegetated areas.
Identify appropriate areas to store snow and communicate this with the plow operator.
Install markers to identify the locations of planters, soil mounds, and bare soil.
Deposit and store snow only in areas that can infiltrate snowmelt such as vegetated areas that are not connected to streams and are not wet (marshy) part of the year. If no such snow storage area exists on your property, design an infiltration system adjacent to your driveway that has a low, landscaped berm around it to contain meltwater from plowed snow.
As a last resort, have the snow hauled away, but make sure that the snow will be deposited in an appropriate location.

Make Every Month Count: Monthly Giving

Start the year off right with a monthly pledge to protect Newfound.

NLRA monthly donors sustain and grow the projects and programs that conserve Newfound. By spreading your gift over the course of the year, you make a constant impact that translates into year-round work to protect the place you love. It's a simple way to make a splash in the watershed. When we know we can count on your monthly support, we can spend more time on the work that really matters.