Volume LXXI ~ February 2024 | |
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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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Ice-in was officially declared on Lake Sunapee on January 19th. Here in the harbor we are in the heart of winter, and as busy as ever. This past month LSPA has welcomed school groups, committees, and neighboring lake associations to the Center for Lake Studies.
At the heart of LSPA's ability to accomplish our mission is our committee work. With collaboration among staff, board members and volunteers, LSPA committees are addressing a wide variety of key environmental issues. The Legislative Committee and Watershed Committee are partnering with local government and community organizations to encourage every member of the community to play an active role in both upcoming state legislation and town meetings. (see LSPA's Legislative Committee information below)
LSPA staff have been updating protocols in our water quality lab at Colby-Sawyer College, writing articles and grants, attending meetings, hosting programs, and planning events for summer 2024. Throughout this winter, as stewards of the watershed, LSPA continues to commit to a sustainable future for the Lake Sunapee region, using community involvement, education, and a scientific approach to achieve a healthy, lasting environment for all.
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LSPA's Legislative Committee ~
The 2024 legislative session is in full swing with over 50 proposed bills that have important implications for our lakes and ponds. Keeping track of the issues and knowing when and how to make your voice heard can be challenging with so much going on. Here are a few tips to maximize your impact:
1) Join us on March 4th for Advocacy 101. LSPA is hosting a training session provided by experts from New Futures Advocacy. Learn how the NH legislature works and how you can most effectively influence the policy decisions that matter to you. This training is free and open to the public. Please register on the events page of our website.
2) Sign up for NH LAKES Advocacy Alerts – our partners at NH LAKES provide frequent and detailed information about the full range of bills working their way through the House and Senate. NH LAKES has a statewide focus. You can subscribe to their email list here.
3) Sign up for LSPA’s Advocacy Alerts – these alerts will be less frequent than those from NH LAKES and will focus on a subset of bills that LSPA is actively supporting or opposing. Members on this list will also receive alerts about local policy issues relevant to the environment of the Lake Sunapee Watershed. You may choose to receive alerts specific to your town, or for all towns in our watershed. Click here to sign up for LSPA's Advocacy alerts.
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LSPA Summer 2024 Internships Available ~
Real World Application of Environmental Sciences
Applications are now being accepted for LSPA's 2024 Water Quality Lab Summer Internship. LSPA, in cooperation with the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), has one of the most extensive water testing programs in New England, with its own laboratory at Colby-Sawyer College. These water quality programs encompass the entire watershed. LSPA also works to correct known environmental problems and prevent future ones by working with state and town governments, property owners, contractors, and concerned citizens. Data from the LSPA testing program is sent directly to the NHDES Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP), where it is evaluated and used to make important decisions concerning the watersheds of more than 25 lakes in the area.
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If you are a college student or recent graduate, LSPA is seeking motivated interns who are eager to learn about lake water chemistry, ecology, water sampling techniques and laboratory protocols including Quality Assurance and Quality Control procedures. This internship offers a fun, productive work environment along with a great experience for you to build on! Housing is provided in Sunapee.
Deadline to apply is Feb 28, 2024
Find more details here.
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LSPA Watershed Management Grant Projects Are Faring Well After Recent Winter Storm Events
We are happy to report that LSPA's recently completed stormwater management projects are functioning well, preventing soil erosion and downstream sedimentation from occurring during recent winter storms.
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This vegetated berm, shown peeking out from the snow, has effectively kept stormwater from eroding the Granliden Community Association beach in Sunapee. | |
This roadside turnout is effectively directing stormwater and any suspended sediment into a forested area away from the brook located at the bottom of the hill on Davis Hill Road in New London. Sediment deposits will be removed later by the Town during a scheduled maintenance visit. | |
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Identifying Future Project Sites ~
LSPA Watershed Director Geoff Lizotte has been consulting with the Highway Departments in Sunapee & Newbury, the Town of Springfield and a private landowner to assess the flood damage from storm events earlier this winter and to suggest solutions to prevent future erosion. Climate scientists predict that New Hampshire will continue to experience more frequent intense storms in future years. Stormwater runoff can erode soils and carry nutrients and pollutants that harm water quality and can lead to cyanobacteria blooms.
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Watershed Wise ~
With the unprecedented amount of rain we've had, have you noticed any erosion or runoff issues on your property? Do you need guidance on creating a buffer or trenches or swales to help preserve and protect your yard from more rain? LSPA offers free advice to landowners through our Watershed Wise program. Now is a great time to begin planning for summer projects. There are so many ways the Watershed Wise Program can help you! Sign up now to be on the 2024 schedule. This program encourages good land stewardship practices that protect the water quality of streams, lakes and ponds within the Lake Sunapee Watershed. Assessments are free. Working together we can protect and preserve this beautiful watershed. To learn more visit https://www.lakesunapee.org/ww-intro and become a Watershed Wise Partner!
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Caring for our Watershed ~
Salt Applications
Salt is an important tool for keeping roads, parking lots, and walkways safe in winter. But the application of salt is steadily altering the natural environment. Salt can throw entire ecosystems out of balance. A teaspoon of salt is enough to pollute five gallons of water. The chloride in salt does not break down, over time it can accumulate to toxic levels.
Visit our website and check out the chloride-free ice control product information and the lake-friendly methods available to manage ice on your property that will reduce your impact at the same time.
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* Shovel and Scrape ~
To minimize the need for salt,
don't let the snow build up.
* Apply Sand and Ashes
if Needed for Traction ~
These materials can be swept up
and reused later.
* Apply Ice Melting Products Sparingly ~
A little goes a long way-
you don't need to feel the crunch
* Use Chloride Free Alternatives~
Click here to learn more,
including where to purchase online.
LSPA is working with local stores to carry some of these products as well.
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Click on links to download:
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Ice Safety ~
Please use caution as you venture out onto any ice covered waterbody. Rain and wind and the ever changing weather can have an effect on ice thickness. Ice doesn't freeze uniformly. So go prepared. Go with a buddy. Bring ice picks and keep them close. Carry a portable flotation device. Remember,
“Thick and blue, tried and true. Thin and crispy, way too risky.”
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We hope to see you at the Center for Lake Studies in 2024. We are busy planning events for the upcoming year. Visit the Events page on our website to learn more. Click here. | |
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Area Lakes Meeting ~
February 22
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Watershed Management Plan
Funding Opportunities
All members of regional lake & pond associations are invited to attend and hear about funding opportunities for watershed management plans. Jeff Marcoux, Watershed Supervisor with NHDES will share information regarding funding opportunities for developing a watershed management plan that meets EPA criteria. Those who come can discuss their experiences, current projects, barriers to success and plans to move forward.
Click here to register.
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Save the date~
Area Lakes Meeting
Wednesday, March 20th
3:00 - 5:00 pm
State Cyanobacteria Plan
Dave Neils, Chief Aquatic Biologist with NHDES, will come to LSPA's Center for Lake Studies to give a presentation on the state's new cyanobacteria plan including the key strategies and goals to address the increase of cyanobacteria blooms in New Hampshire's lakes and ponds and eventually control them in our waters.
Click here for more information and to register.
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Thursday, April 4th and Friday, Apr 5th
During this 2-day workshop facilitated by UNH Extension and NH Department of Environmental Services, participants will learn principles and best practices for creating and maintaining attractive, functional landscapes while protecting water quality in local lakes and rivers. This workshop is designed for landscapers and others who develop, maintain, or preserve properties in and around the Sunapee Region, and includes presentations and practical sessions.
New Hampshire Certified Landscape Professionals certificates of completion will be available and pesticide credits will be available pending state approval.
Click here for more information.
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Perkins Pond Watershed Management Plan Voter Information Session
LSPA hosted a meeting at the Center for Lake Studies on January 30 to answer questions about the warrant article to approve accepting a loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to fund a watershed management plan for Perkins Pond. Suzanne Graves, President of the Perkins Pond Protective Association gave an overview of water quality issues surrounding Perkins Pond and explained the process of applying for this kind of loan. Sunapee residents will vote on the warrant article on the town's March ballot.
To learn more, check out Perkins Pond Protective Association or this article in the Eagle Times.
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Virginia Tech Students Present Weather Data Research ~
Three Virginia Tech students, Adam White, Mariah Bolden and Aanish Pradhan, from a Senior Capstone Class for the Computational Modeling and Data Analytics Major, have been analyzing weather data collected around Lake Sunapee to develop highly-accurate weather forecasts that can be used to improve lake water quality forecasts.
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The team presented their findings at LSPA's Center for Lake Studies in January. They used high density of weather data around Sunapee and novel computational methods to develop improved local weather forecasts. The results translate coarse-scale weather predictions into hyper-local weather forecasts using a machine learning algorithm, which can be directly used to improve Lake Sunapee water forecasts that are based on the Sunapee buoy data.
Click here to learn more about their research.
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LSPA Education Program Awarded NHEE Grant ~
Lake Sunapee Protective Association was awarded a New Hampshire Environmental Educators "NHEE'd to Get Outside" grant. The New Hampshire Environmental Educators (NHEE) awarded over $30,000 in NHEE’d to Get Outside grants to 23 schools and organizations for 2024. Schools and nonprofits receive this funding to help their students access the outdoors whether it is for admission and transportation for field trips to nature spaces, snowshoes for winter exploration or science tools for outdoor learning.
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Lake Sunapee Protective Association's grant will go toward transportaion for the Richards Elementary School 5th grade students to visit the LSPA's Center for Lake Studies and participate in our Watershed Discovery Day Program and Richards 4th graders to go to The Fells for a full day Watershed Ecology experience (studying forest, meadow, lakeshore and stream habitats). Both of these trips are culminating experiences of a year-long program of monthly classroom visits conducted by LSPA education staff.
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LSPA Educators ~
LSPA educators have been visiting schools, hosting programs, and leading winter activities all throughout the month of January seeing over 260 students in all. Last month they delivered, directly from the Berlin Fish Hatchery, hundreds of brook trout eggs to area schools. LSPA partners with NH Fish and Game to facilitate Trout Unlimited's Trout In The Classroom program. LSPA educators’ goal is to connect students with their watershed. Students will be observing the brook trout, studying their development, and investigating the environment in which the trout can survive and thrive. Tanks, set up in classrooms and a school lobby, invite students to observe the trout growth, learn about them as an indicator species, and discover what is needed for a healthy habitat when they are released. LSPA educators will be teaching follow up lessons with classrooms to identify critical habitat needs such as clear cold water and suitable oxygen levels. The students are always amazed at how small the brook trout eggs are and how big a brook trout can become.
|  | Brook trout eggs find their new home at the Kearsarge Elementary School in Bradford. Students get their first glimpse at the eggs. Some eggs are settled in the bottom of the tank and others are left in a breeding basic for closer observations. | |
Over 200 brook trout eggs are being transferred into one of five carrying containers at the Berlin Fish Hatchery. | |
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Adults got in on the winter activity action too! LSPA and The Fells Educators collaborated on a fun and exploratory snowshoe hike at The Fells. The snow was great and animal tracks and signs could be noticed everywhere. Signs of the changing climate were observed and the phenomenon of various trees where their bark had turned red were pointed out. The hike was delightful and the woods a scene of beauty.
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Tuesday, February 27 and Thursday February 29
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join LSPA and Fells educators for a two-day program which begins with a classroom session at Lake Sunapee Protective Association’s Center for Lake Studies. Open to families and all ages, the first program at LSPA will introduce the techniques and skills for tracking animals in the winter. The second program, held outside at The Fells, will be a chance to apply these tracking skills on The Fells’ trails, forests and meadows. Please dress for outdoor exploration on Thursday the 29th. These events are free.
Please click here to register.
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Nature Exploration Story Time
Tuesdays in February at 10:00 am
Come join LSPA environmental educators for nature themed activities on Tuesday mornings at LSPA’s Center for Lake Studies. Each Tuesday will offer a different theme and include a story, activities, a craft, and exploration. These programs are designed for young children and their caregivers. They are free and open to all! We look forward to welcoming you in the Discovery Room, a room full of fun ways to investigate the out of doors. In February we will explore what our forest friends do in the winter (how they move and the stories their tracks tell) and look at life both over and under the snow. We look forward to seeing you!
Click here to download the Nature Exploration Story Time flyer.
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LSPA's Newest Volunteer ~
Sage Fletcher
Sage Fletcher, from Springfield, New Hampshire, is volunteering with LSPA. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Environmental Analysis (Science Track) from Pitzer College in the winter of 2023. Most of her previous research experience has been in marine and climate science as well as forest ecology, so she is excited to explore limnology research with LSPA. Sage is looking forward to gaining more field experience in water quality sampling and engaging in hands-on experiences at the intersection between scientific research, policy, and community engagement. Welcome Sage!
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Memorial ~
LSPA was saddened to hear of the passing of Carol O’Neill in December. Carol and her husband Tom were fixtures in the Blodgett Landing community developing friendships that lasted decades dating to when they first purchased their cottage in 1967. The O’Neill family shared that Carol cherished family dinners with her four children and eight grandchildren after spending the day on Lake Sunapee. Carol and Tom supported LSPA’s mission through their many years of membership. The O’Neill family graciously asked for memorial contributions to be made to LSPA, and we have received $3,120 in Carol’s memory. We extend our sincere gratitude to the O’Neill family for considering LSPA the appropriate recipient of memorial contributions. Our thoughts continue to be with Carol’s family and friends.
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Resources ~
Check out LSPA's Resource Page! This page has resources for teachers, Homeschool groups and remote learners offering access to a myriad of sites all pertaining to outdoor education with science based curriculums and tools. It also has a list of activities for families that encourage, excite and engage in the natural world with all its awe and wonder. There are also maps and historical and current data available to check out!
LSPA's Winter Discoveries page has an abundance of resources for adults to explore the local area during these beautiful winter days. Following LSPA's theme of "discovery, learning, and research" you'll find this page shares information not only on what and where to explore safely, but wildlife links, webinars, courses and much more!
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This winter season LSPA Kid's Ecology Corner page highlights a wide variety of activities. Find out about the amazing adaptations animals have to protect themselves in winter, how plants survive the freezing cold, plus some fun winter science experiments. February is a wonderful time to explore the outdoors!
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Be a Lake Sunapee Watershed Explorer!
Winter is a perfect time to get to know the Lake Sunapee Watershed! LSPA invites you and your family to explore the Lake Sunapee Watershed. Enjoy the lake and the forests of the watershed while you learn a bit about the science and history of Lake Sunapee. Pick 5 activities from the attached list and when you have completed them fill out the simple documentation form. You will have good memories, new knowledge and a patch to remember the experience by!
Click here for the list and form!
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In the News ~
A ski-through lighthouse on Mt. Sunapee
Inspired by the three lighthouses on Lake Sunapee, NH's only ski-through lighthouse recently opened at Mount Sunapee. Visit the LSPA website to learn more about the lighthouses. LSPA has been maintaining Lake Sunapee’s three lighthouses since the 1980's.
Click here to read more.
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Upcoming Events from Partner Organizations ~ | | |
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This four-part series will provide Conservation Commissioners and other town volunteers with information and resources related to conservation actions they can take for wildlife in New Hampshire.
Webinar Topics & Schedule
Community Conservation for Wildlife
Wednesday, February 7 – 4:00-5:15pm
Land-Use Planning for Wildlife
Wednesday, February 21– 4:00-5:15pm
More Information & Register
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Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust
Upcoming Guided Snowshoe in Sutton
Tuesday, February 13 - 11 a.m.
Snow Date: Tuesday, February 27 - 11 a.m.
Explore the Shadow Hill Woodlot/Hannah and Sheets Property in Sutton with ASLPT staff leading the way! Strap on your snowshoes and look for evidence of winter critters on the way to views of Mt. Kearsarge on this beautiful conservation easement. This would be a great activity for students who are home on February break!
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Please email: stewardship@ausbonsargent.org or call 603-526-6555 to sign up!
If you are unable to join Ausbon Sargent for their guided outings, there's a way to still get out and enjoy some of their properties on your own!
Check out their new "DIY" Snowshoe Guide for self-guided exploration on six of their wonderful properties HERE!
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Monday, February 19
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm via Zoom
Presented by the Harris Center for Conservation Education
Small, secretive, and nocturnal, Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) are one of the most common – and most elusive – owls in Northern forests. In the fall of 2022, the Harris Center established a saw-whet banding station on SuperSanctuary lands as part of an international research effort to better understand their fall migration. Join lead bander Hillary Siener to recap the first two seasons of the Harris Center’s saw-whet migration monitoring project, and to learn more about this charismatic bird of prey.
To get the login details, please register here.
Closed captioning will be available. This event will be recorded. To ensure access to the recording, please register for this event, even if you cannot attend live.
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Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) ~
Join the world in connecting to birds –February 16–19
Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days people are invited to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to the GBBC. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations. The GBBC is the world’s largest biodiversity-related participatory science (community science or citizen science) project.
Click here to see how you can participate.
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Winter Turkey Flock Survey
New Hampshire Fish and Game
January 1 - March 31st
This is an ongoing community science experience. Report sightings of turkey flocks in the winter months to assist in determining the effects of winter weather on turkeys. NH Fish and Game collects simple information about each flock sighting through an on-line form.
Click here for more information.
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Sullivan County Conservation District Spring Plant Sale!
Order Deadline is March 31, 2024
Customers will pick them up in Unity, NH on May 3 & 4, 2024.
The plant sale is held every spring and features a variety of quality plants at good prices - shade trees, fruit trees, berry bushes, wildlife plants, and flowering plants.
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This is an annual fundraiser that supports local conservation activities throughout the year, including public workshops, school education programs, and projects. All of the plants offered are hardy, healthy, and adapted to our growing conditions. Please order through their ONLINE STORE. | |
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10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Ice
Read about ice, starting with 10 things you probably didn’t know. The author underscores how precious this commodity is, especially in an age of climate change. And, “In an age of accelerating global warming, a question begs to be asked: Can ice in the freezer and ice on our planetary poles continue to coexist?”
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Outside Observations ~
The month of February marks the halfway point of our winter season. Often referred to as “the dead of winter,” fresh water ecologists and author Dr. David Strayer maintains “a closer look shows that nature is very much alive, even in February’s coldest days.” Overhead and below the snow life is plentiful. The recent snows have helped create the very needed subnivean layer – a hidden world that exists under the snow. This world, warmed by the ground, protects a wide range of wildlife (insects, mammals, plants, and vast mats of fungi and bacteria) that overwinters and stays active. Above ground, winter stoneflies, who are “unique among aquatic insects, emerge only at this time of year – perhaps, because of the scarcity of predators,” writes Mary Holland.
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Deer, like many of the active winter mammals, now begin to struggle as they search for food. They will have lost up to 25% of their weight, despite a big decrease in their activity and their efforts to conserve as much energy as possible. Their counterpart the moose are also struggling but with the added burden of winter ticks. Deep, deep snow makes life difficult for many animals to get around, but it does allow some, like the snowshoe hare, to reach a new supply of food. If the snow is deep enough, a wide range of wildlife use it as insulation to protect themselves from the cold. Grouse will dive right into a snowy bank, creating the perfect resting place to settle in for the night.
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There are numerous examples of animal activity and winter survival to be seen all over the Sunapee area. Almost all of the plants and animals that live in our area lakes can survive the harsh NH winters due to the myriad of adaptations they have and the unique properties of water. Most lakes and ponds don’t freeze entirely because the ice and snow on the surface acts to insulate the water below. Next time you are out on the ice, pause for a moment to think about who and what might be moving about underneath your feet.
February is the year’s shortest month, marking the halfway point of our winter season, yet it offers plenty of opportunity to observe wildlife right in your own neighborhood. So, take some time to get outside, delight in the crisp cold winter air, and enjoy this amazing region or wherever this email finds you.
To read more about what’s going on during this time of year check out:
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Happy Valentine's Day!
Try and spot some of nature's love on the 14th!
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Lake Sunapee Protective Association
Center for Lake Studies
Physical Address:
63 Main Street
Sunapee, NH 03782
Mailing Address:
PO Box 683, Sunapee, NH 03782
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