Waiting for Ice

As of January 25, much of the lake is still open water. Data spanning the past 100+ years show lakes across the northern hemisphere are freezing later and thawing sooner, with the period of ice cover decreasing by one to two weeks on average. How does this affect Newfound?

Less ice cover means:

• More shoreline erosion.  An iced-in lake is buffered from harmful erosion by winter waves. With less ice to protect the shoreline, erosion brings sediment and other pollutants into the lake, lowering water quality.
• Increased risk of harmful cyanobacteria blooms. When ice melts early and water becomes warmer, cyanobacteria have more time to grow.
• More algae and aquatic plant growth, including invasive species. Ice cover blocks sunlight, slowing the growth of algae and aquatic plants. Too much plant and algae growth leads to deteriorating water quality.
• Fewer fish and an imbalanced ecosystem. Some types of fish depend on ice cover and a long, cold winter for egg development and survival. Fewer fish can impact the rest of the food chain.
• Lost recreational and economic opportunities. From ice fishing to pond hockey and more, less ice means less ice recreation and the support it brings to the local economy.

The loss of winter lake ice is a key indicator of climate change. Here are steps we can take in every season to buffer Newfound Lake from a changing climate: 

When is the Ice Safe?

Ice should never be considered “safe.” Review these ice safety tips from NH Fish and Game before you make your way onto frozen lakes:

Gain hands-on conservation experience and protect Newfound's land and water as a Newfound Watershed Steward! Watershed Stewards lend their time and talents to further the mission of conserving the Newfound Watershed through an array of assignments. Learn more about this regional AmeriCorps program and apply today: 

Learn more and apply: NewfoundLake.org/Watershed-Stewards

See other summer employment opportunities with the NLRA at: NewfoundLake.org/employment

Upcoming NLRA Events

Explore animal tracks, evergreen plants, and how nature responds to winter, plus make a nature journal to take home.

Join us for a story time that explores how local species of all kinds make it through winter and make a pine needle craft to take home.

Get an in-depth look at the health of the Newfound Watershed, current conservation efforts, and emerging threats. Bring your questions and concerns about watershed health!

Visit NewfoundLake.org/events 

to register and see all upcoming events.

Tax-Savvy Giving: Turn your Required Minimum Distribution into a Qualified Charitable Deduction

If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can satisfy all or part of your annual required minimum distribution and potentially lower your tax bill while making a big impact in the watershed.

Satisfy your required minimum distribution with a qualified charitable deduction and you can direct up to $100,000 per year (up to $200,000 for married couples filing jointly) from your IRA to the charities of your choice. Here are some of the potential benefits:

1. Because QCDs don’t increase taxable income, both higher tax rates and phaseouts can be avoided.
2. By reducing the balance of your IRA, they may reduce required minimum distributions in future years.
3. If you itemize your giving on your taxes, QCDs are not counted toward the maximum amounts deductible, potentially enabling you to give a more impactful charitable gift.

For more tax-smart ways to make a difference, visit NewfoundLake.org/membership.