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Lake Sunapee Protective Association
Devoted to the Environmental Quality of the Lake Sunapee Watershed
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A Flash Of The Beacon
Welcome to A Flash of the Beacon!
A quick look at what's happening
at the Center for Lake Studies,
highlights of current news and events,
plus what's going on outside in nature.
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The month of May finds the area lakes free of ice and in the midst of lake turnover time. LSPA is in the midst of fantastic spring programming and celebrating its 125th anniversary! Our busy summer season is right around the corner and as we get Lake Hosts and water quality interns settled, we are focused on Watershed Management projects, and running a host of educational programs.
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The Center for Lake Studies continues to welcome a wide range of audiences interested in learning about the natural world and the role each of us can play to help preserve and enhance the environment of the Lake Sunapee Watershed. From preschool to college to adult programs, LSPA provides educational and life long learning opportunities for one and all.
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Join us this spring and follow the wonderful example the area lakes display of renewal and rejuvenation, offering new energy and nourishment to their surrounding environment.
For more information visit our website to learn about the work we do to protect water quality in the Lake Sunapee Region. Membership dollars make our work possible!
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Please join LSPA and the Sunapee Gardeners
on May 9th at 6:30 pm for a rain garden tour and 7:00 pm talk.
You can register here for the event.
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And...
Save the Date! Tuesday, June 20th!
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Our Wonderful, "Waterful" Landscape ~
On Friday, April 21st, LSPA celebrated Earth Day and their 125th anniversary with a presentation featuring Peter Bloch's stunning photography and Dave Anderson's inspirational words. LSPA was filled almost to capacity and those present were
delighted with the mixing of the sights and sounds of our natural world. It was truly a beautiful way to start this new spring season with hope and renewed energy. If you missed this event you can experience the encore presentation in a few months on July 7th. Register here!
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The LSPA Buoy ~
The LSPA Buoy will be heading back out to its summer site in a couple weeks. Virginia Tech Lab Manager and Technician Adrienne Breef-Pilz will join Watershed Director Geoff Lizotte in calibrating the sensors that measure dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity, along with several other variables. Calibrating the buoy instruments is an essential task in prepping the buoy for the upcoming summer months and is key in order for the data to be valid for use by the LSPA research community. Look for this bright yellow icon out in its designated spot by Loon Island.
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LSPA is looking for Invasive Watch volunteers to monitor a section of shoreline for aquatic invasive species. In particular, volunteers are needed in the following areas: 1A, 8, 11A, 11B and 22A.
If you are new to weed watching or want a refresher on how to survey for aquatic invasive species, please join us on May 15 at 4:30 pm at the Center for Lake Studies. Amy Smagula, NHDES Exotic Species Program Coordinator, will be here to lead the training. Please RSVP to Susie at susieb@lakesunapee.org.
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LSPA Water Quality Monitors ~
LSPA is looking for volunteers to monitor nearshore sites in the Gardner Bay area of Lake Sunapee. Nearshore monitors measure water clarity and collect samples monthly starting in June and ending in September on an annual basis. You will need access to a boat and samples need to be delivered to the Water Quality Laboratory located at the Ivey Center at Colby-Sawyer College. Training will be provided by LSPA. Those interested, please contact LSPA Watershed Director, Geoff Lizotte at 603-763-2210 or via email at geoff@lakesunapee.org.
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LSPA's Lake Hosts
Begin Monitoring Boat Ramps May 19th ~
LSPA is looking for interested individuals and volunteers who would be available on weekends to help monitor Lake Sunapee's boat ramps. Looking for ways to help support the lake? This is a wonderful opportunity!
For more information see job description here.
Or to apply for a weekend position, please contact Susie Burbidge at susieb@lakesunapee.org or (603) 763-2210.
This is a program of NH LAKES in partnership with LSPA.
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Volunteer Lake Assessment Program ~
VLAP was launched in 1985 to establish a citizen-based lake sampling program to assist NHDES in evaluating lake quality throughout the state, and to empower citizens with information about the health of the state’s lakes and ponds. This cooperative effort allows state biologists and lake associations to make educated decisions regarding the future of New Hampshire’s lakes and ponds. LSPA is hosting VLAP's Annual Workshop.
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To register, for the VLAP Annual Workshop click here.
Click here for the agenda.
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LSPA Watershed Grant Updates ~
Two water resource protection projects in the Lake Sunapee Watershed are anticipated to begin in August. Both the Granliden and the Pine Cliff Road projects will involve restoration where runoff has affected the area. These sights will have stormwater bio-retention structures added to prevent further erosion. The main focus of these two projects was in the design to slow down and capture stormwater runoff that often causes erosion and can transport sediments laden with excessive nutrients into Lake Sunapee. These two projects have involved the collaboration between governmental agencies, local towns and private landowners.
LSPA provides advisory services and information on a variety of watershed protection topics and works with local, state and regional partners including landowners. If you are in need of some advice over concerns on such issues as runoff, erosion, shoreland protection, stormwater maintenance, or cyanobacteria please contact LSPA’s Watershed Director, Geoff Lizotte at geoff@lakesunapee.org.
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Ice Out
Ice Out on Lake Sunapee was officially declared on April 14th.
Although this year was not the earliest ice out date (that was March 15th, 2016) the trend for shorter and shorter winters is evident in the graph below. A slow and steady decrease of ice cover is representative of our ever changing climate. More "ice out" information can be found on NHDES Lake Sunapee.
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With ice out coming earlier and earlier both ecological and cultural implications are being observed. Read Ice Out: How N.H.’s rite of spring has become a symbol of climate change to learn more about what scientists at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study, plus scientists and professors of biological sciences at the University of New Hampshire are discovering. "A shifting climate becomes very tangible when it’s observed in things like a shorter ice-fishing season and an earlier start to spring boating. New England scientists also see ripple effects on a region’s ecology."
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LSPA's Ice Out Contest ~
There were four winners of the Ice Out contest!
Glennie L., Patricia L., Bev B., and Matthew K. all picked the 14th for the day the ice would be off the lake. They each can claim a gift from the contest's selection of LSPA goods at the Center for Lake Studies. Congratulations one and all!
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Vernal Pool Walk ~
LSPA educators explored the vernal pools at The Fells yesterday. Eager participants learned about the life cycle of our amphibian friends and the variety of frogs and salamanders that live in our area. It was cold and wet, but we braved the weather, hiking in to see quite a few newly laid egg masses attached to a variety of branches and sticks within the pools.
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This past month LSPA educators have been visiting schools and libraries teaching about what is happening in our watersheds during this changing seasonal month. Sixth graders at the Newport Middle School investigated groundwater models, water quality parameters, and how macroinvertebrates are indicator species for water quality. | |
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Our Trout in the Classroom programs continue with students studying and observing, and journaling their trout’s development. Classrooms will soon be releasing their trout into nearby sites that they studied and determined to be healthy cold water habitats for their trout. | |
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Last week, Franklin Pierce University's Professor of Environmental Science, Catherine Owen Koning, brought her Water Resources class to LSPA to learn about what we do. Education Director Kathleen Stowell gave them an overview and the class was able to explore the exhibits. Water Steward Susie Burbidge presented a brief summary on loons and the class was briefed about the Water Quality Buoy by Watershed Director Geoff Lizotte. The class also took samples to compare them to samples they’ve taken from other lakes in the region. The students collected plankton from the harbor and viewed them under the microscopes. The hands on experience was a highlight and the students were in awe of the various plankton species they had collected.
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May is always a busy month for LSPA educators. This month you can find us:
- discussing properties of water at the 2023 Drinking Water Festival
- assessing water quality with high school students at LSPA's Center
- offering an erosion activity and bog study at Environmental Camp
- exploring meadow, stream and forest at The Fells with school groups
- doing a play with 4th graders on the glacial formation of Lake Sunapee
- investigating pond life and insects with 1st and 2nd graders
- continuing to do our regular monthly programs with preschools
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Area Lake and Pond Water Quality Spring Follow-up Session ~
On April 6th, LSPA hosted members of regional lake and pond associations who met to review how LSPA's Water Quality Lab at Colby-Sawyer College operates, which water quality parameters LSPA tests for and some common mistakes made while sampling. The group had a great discussion about what they are hoping to learn from the data collection including asking questions such as:
- Where is the salt coming from?
- What is happening to phosphorus levels over time?
- How do people and water get along?
- What's the difference between global vs. local impacts?
- What is our recreational impact on erosion, septic systems, etc...?
The next gathering for the regional lake and pond associations will be held next fall.
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Colby-Sawyer College Student Research ~
Three Colby-Sawyer students have been doing an independent research project for Professor Nick Baer's Ecology class. Their project included taking samples from three different ponds that are connected by waterways, identifying the bacteria that grows in those areas, and seeing how it differs as they move along the varying waterways. Pictured here, working in LSPA's Water Quality Lab and using LSPA's vacuum pump and filters, are Sam Carus, Jean Santana and Molly Macklin.
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The three Colby-Sawyer College seniors pictured below presented their impressive research project on Microplastics to LSPA board members, staff and past presidents on April 19th at our Center for Lake Studies. Click here to learn more about the results of their research work. Congratulations Allison L'Heureux, Caitlyn Boucher, and Kylie Marquis for a job well done! | |
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Nature Exploration Story Hour ~
Every Tuesday at 10:00 am
at LSPA's Center for Lake Studies
Come join LSPA environmental educators for nature themed activities every Tuesday morning at LSPA’s Center for Lake Studies. Each Tuesday will offer a different theme and include activities, a craft, a nature walk and exploration. Our topics will welcome spring, highlighting blooms, bugs, turtles and fawns! This program is designed for young children and their caregivers. We look forward to welcoming you in the Discovery Room, a room full of fun ways to investigate the out of doors.
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Check out LSPA's
"Explore the Outdoors" Backpack!
Inside each backpack you can find books, games, scavenger hunts, science experiments, suggestions for outdoor activities and so many wonderful creative craft ideas! You can find LSPA Backpacks at the local area libraries and at LSPA's Center for Lake Studies.
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Calling all Watershed Explorers!
Spring is a perfect time to get to know the Lake Sunapee Watershed! LSPA invites you and your family to explore the Lake Sunapee Watershed by enjoying the lakes and the forests while you learn a bit about the science and history of the Lake Sunapee region. Pick 5 activities (listed on the link below) and when you have completed them fill out the simple documentation form on our website to receive your Watershed Explorer patch. You will have good memories, new knowledge and a patch to remember your experiences by!
Spring Watershed Explorer
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Watershed Wise ~ Spring Clean Up!
The month of May is a great time to plan and think about ways to begin practicing or supplementing the best land management, conservation, and environmentally friendly landscaping for your property. Please check with your landscape contractors to make sure we are all working together to maintain a healthy and clean watershed.
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Discover plants and practices that will help you:
- invite pollinators
- avoid pesticides
- conserve water
- manage weeds
- plant native plants
- love leaves
and so much more!!
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Questions on where to start or how to improve the water quality in your neighborhood? LSPA offers an advisory service and can answer questions regarding concerns over erosion, runoff, and can help show you ways you can protect your property and the water around you from harmful pollutants.
Landscaping of a lakeshore property has special considerations, so that the lake is minimally harmed by human contact. Ground covers, shrubs, and trees serve as an important function in trapping sediment and water runoff and a well-balanced landscaping design will include them all. Before removing any trees near the shoreline remember there are local and state regulations regarding tree cutting.
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Consider joining LSPA's Watershed Wise program this summer and help protect the stream, pond or lake near you. LSPA is extremely grateful to have so many individuals participate, reconstruct, and share wonderful examples of conservation, land management, and environmentally friendly landscaping through the Watershed Wise program. These efforts are the building blocks that help preserve the water quality of Lake Sunapee region. As watershed stewards the key for all of us is to implement as many best management practices as possible.
For more information on the Watershed Wise Program Click Here.
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Caring for our Watershed ~
Leave the Leaves and No-Mow May
With these mild temperatures and sunshine, we’re all excited to spend time outdoors and get to spring cleaning. However, when it comes to prepping the garden and clearing the yard there’s something to keep in mind. Pollinators! Native bees use leaf litter, hollow grasses, and wood piles to overwinter. Because they won’t all emerge until the daytime temperatures are consistently 50 degrees, it's best to leave the leaf litter until consistent warm temperatures arrive. Another way you can help pollinators in the spring is participating in No Mow May. The No Mow May project is designed to provide early-season forage — think: clovers, dandelions, and violets — for pollinators emerging from winter hibernation, especially in neighborhoods where floral resources are limited. A new study from Appleton, Wisconsin, has found that it works: lawns left unmowed for the month of May had five times as many bees and three times the bee diversity of mowed lawns.
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Sunapee Green Up Days! May 5th and 6th!
14TH ANNUAL SUNAPEE GREEN-UP DAY MAY
Sunapee Green-Up Days are a Sunapee Tradition! Project Sunapee organizes this great town-wide roadside clean up day that fosters community spirit and volunteerism. For additional Green-Up Day Information & Volunteer Forms and to review the Safety Check List plus view and sign up for a street(s) that are available for clean up click on the link below:
https://projectsunapee.org/green-up-day/
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Loon News ~
Common loons have been sighted in the area out on the newly ice free lakes. Some loons are simply resting for a while as they migrate farther north or west of here, and others will stick around and begin looking and calling for mates. Keep your eyes and ears open for them.
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LSPA's Loon Committee Chair Kristen Begor and committee member David Beardsley set up floating nesting rafts for the loons on Lake Sunapee last week. These floating rafts provide the loons a safe nesting site, offering shade and stability with water level changes. As the two worked to fix an anchor line, a loon popped up right next to them.
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The Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) is working with their friends at Journey North to help generate more participation in their common loon migration study. The study seeks to create a better understanding of Common Loon migration by tracking ice-out dates and common loon return dates.
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If you'd like to see their work in action, take a look at Journey North's Loon Migration map, which is updated daily and shows loon movement across the country in real time.
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The Loon Safe initiative of the Loon Preservation Committee is a comprehensive effort to reduce loon mortality from lead (Pb) poisoning. A centerpiece of this effort is the Lead Tackle Buyback (LTB) Initiative. Lead fishing sinkers and jigs weighing one ounce or less continue to be the largest known source of loon mortality, causing the deaths of five adult loons in New Hampshire in 2022.
Spring is a great time to clean out your tackle boxes and take advantage of LPC's vouchers. Anglers can exchange one ounce or more of banned lead fishing tackle for a $10 merchandise voucher redeemable at participating tackle shops.
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The Tackle Shack in Newbury is a participating member of the Lead Tackle buyback initiative.
The Tackle Shack
894 Route 103
Newbury, NH 03255
(603)763-5508
LSPA also has a drop box for toxic sinkers and jigs. You can stop by and trade yours in for new lead-free ones.
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NH HB137, relative to boating safety equipment rules and vessel numbering rules, and establishing a committee to study boat registrations fees, passed.
This bill will establish a committee to figure out how the state can separate out the additional fees that are collected (and are against federal law) when a boat is registered in New Hampshire. Again, these additional fees support critical programs, including the lake restoration and preservation fund which supports the prevention and management of invasive species in our lakes.
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So, now is the time to register your boats in NH!
Registration fees are determined by the length of your boat.
- Less than or equal to 16 feet: $24
- <16 feet to 21 feet: $34
- <21 feet to 30 feet: $52
- <30 feet to 45 feet: $72
- Above 45 feet: $92
On top of these fees, everyone must pay a $7.50 fee toward the state lake restoration and preservation fund, a $5 fee to use public waters, and a $1 fee toward the game search and rescue fund. You also need to pay an additional $2 if you plan to use your boat on coastal waters.
Here is where you can register your boat and find out more information.
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Resources ~
Check out LSPA's Resource Page for ideas, articles,
things to do, and other resource information!
This month LSPA Kid's Ecology Corner page highlights a wide variety of activities. Find out about what some of the first spring birds are to arrive, and when they will get here. Investigate STEM activities and learn all about frogs, salamanders and vernal pools. Spring is here! Get outside and discover the wonders of this amazing season!
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LSPA's Discoveries page has an abundance of resources for adults to explore the gorgeous beauty of this area. Following LSPA's theme of "discovery, learning, and research" you'll find this page shares information on what and where to explore, wildlife links, webinars, courses and much more!
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Happy May Day! May 1st marks the midpoint between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. Outside nature is beginning to color the hills in lovely shades of green. The natural world, throughout the month of May, is literally blossoming all around us! The sights, sounds, and smells of spring are especially unique to this incredibly vibrant season. The bright, light green needles of the balsam fir tree are the first to open and show their incredible color. Listen for the clear, musical chirps and trills of the spring field crickets and peepers this month as they talk back and forth. And the brown thrasher, who has around 2,000 songs in its repertoire, can also be heard singing its heart out. A myriad of birds can be observed calling to each other, nesting, laying eggs, protecting them, and soon feeding their young. Animals - from small chipmunks (early May) to mighty Moose (late May) – are all being born. You know spring has arrived when the purple trillium, with its beautiful coloring, is in bloom. Dandelions and violets are also a sure sign of spring! They are one of the first food sources for bees and other pollinators. Dandelions are considered a valuable food source for us as well. Steamed, sautéed or simply the greens in your salad, dandelions are quite beneficial to human health. Harvest the yellow delight right out of your own yard and revel in their tastiness!
Get outside, soak up the sunshine, breathe the delightful clean air and connect to the amazing beauty resplendent right in your own backyard! Enjoy!
To read more about what’s going on during this time of year check out
Northern Woodlands
Naturally Curious with Mary Holland
NH Garden Solutions
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Read and Listen about Ecology and Environmental News and Events ~ | |
Explore Lakes with NH LAKES Webinar Series
Dragonflies and Damselflies
and New Hampshire’s Waters
Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
If you’ve spent time in or around New Hampshire’s waterways, you’ve most likely seen one of these insects. Maybe one has even landed on you! Join this webinar to learn about these members of an ancient order of insects (Odonata – meaning “toothed ones”) that has been on this planet for 300 million years. For a small northern state, New Hampshire hosts a high diversity of species, with 166 currently recorded. These insects occur in freshwater habitats statewide, from our largest rivers to ponds above treeline in the White Mountains, and the myriad bogs and beaver ponds in between. They spend most of their lives as aquatic nymphs, and in many cases this life stage can be an indicator of high water quality.
Presented by Pamela D. Hunt, Ph.D., Senior Biologist for Avian Conservation, NH Audubon
Register here.
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Join Susie Spikol, Harris Center for Conservation Education's Community Programs Director & Teacher-Naturalist, on May 10th to learn a bit of history and the animals that came before. | |
‘How will global warming change springtime?’
The season’s natural rhythms are out of whack.
Yale Climate Connections shares how climate change is making springtime weird. Warmer spring temperatures put plants and animals out of sync. Birds nest too early, migrations are happening too late, and agricultural rhythms are disrupted.
Read and Listen to it here.
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Seeing the Forest for the Bees
There’s been considerable focus in recent years on enhancing bee habitat through meadow restoration and gardening with pollinator-friendly plants. But forests are also important to many bee species. New research by Rachael Winfree of Rutgers University shows that forest bees are also integral to the health and productivity of ecosystems across the region.
Read more from the Northern Woodland's article by Kevin Berend and Liz Wahid
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Views around Lake Sunapee ~ | |
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Do you have any spectacular photos of Lake Sunapee’s watershed to share with our readers? Send them along to Nancy via her email - nancy@lakesunapee.org
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Lake Sunapee Protective Association
Center for Lake Studies
63 Main Street
Sunapee, NH 03782
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