| The Governor's Water Sustainability Commission is partnering with NH Listens to convene public conversations about the future of our state's water. Listening sessions are being held at various locations throughout the state on May 8th from 6pm to 9pm. The goal is to gather ideas, experiences and recommendations from a wide range of New Hampshire residents. Although free, registration is required. Please visit www.nhlistens.org for more information. | |
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 A Bear Visits Jordan |
The Bears are Out! "The bears are out and about so take in your bird feeders if you want to use them next season.". This warning and the photos were shared with us by Jordan Prouty.
2012 LKWA Newsletter is here
The 2012 Lake Kanasatka Watershed Association newsletter has been mailed. If you have not reeceived your copy, you may download it here. Visit our Lake News page for an archive of newsletters from previous years.
Please Note - Correction:
Annual Dues should be sent to: Sue Schmidt, Treasurer PO Box 774 NOT 477 as it states in the newsletter.
Ice Out Declared Thursday March 22!
Ice Out was declared by Kanastka's official "Icemeister" on Thursday March 22. The Icemeister (AKA John McRae) declares "Ice Out" when he can paddle his kayak from one end of Lake Kanasatka to to the other. On Wednesday March 21 the first power boat was seen operated by "The Lone Boater". At that time however, the southern shore of Kanasatka was still ice bound. A brisk wind on Wednesday night took care of that blockage making it possible for the Icemeister to make his declaration.
LKWA and Kilnwood Reach Settlement Agreement
The Lake Kanasatka Watershed Association (LKWA) and Kilnwood on Kanasatka Condominiums have reached a Settlement Agreement (the “10th Amendment to the Kilnwood Declaration of Condominium”) which resolves the litigation commenced in 2010. Kilnwood property owners voted to approve the new Agreement at a special meeting held on November 19.
Get the details here.
Hal Richards - 1916-2012
H. Hallock Richards…age 95 …passed away on March 8, 2012 “Hal” lived in Moultonborough and resided at the NH Veterans Home. He was born in Chatham, NJ to son of George D. and Anne H (Hallock) Richards. He was educated in Chatham Schools.
Inducted into the Army in February 1942 and after leaving OCS was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale in Colorado. In June of 1944 he joined the 83rd Infantry Division and served combat duty in the European Theater and was awarded the Purple Heart.
Mr. Richards business career in Sales and Marketing covered both retail and industrial marketing. At various times he resided in New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Colorado. He was an ardent Fly Fisherman, Mountaineer, and Skier.
After retiring and returning to New Hampshire he became interested in lake water quality. In 1984 he was co-founder and first President of the Lakes Region Federation which soon became the New Hampshire Lakes Association. In 1992 the present NHLA was formed by the merger of the Lakes Association and the Lakes Coalition.
Family members include sons George “Chip” Richards of Moultonborough and Bruce H. Richards of Sedalia, Colorado and three grandsons Seth, Scott, and Duncan of Moultonborough and loving companion Chip Sorlien. Mr. Richards was pre-deceased by wives Lucia Muller Richards and Mary (Lang) Engle Richards and a brother Foster C. Richards
There will be a memorial service at the convenience of the family. Kindly omit flowers… contributions may be made to the New Hampshire Lakes Assn., 3 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH 03301 or the 10th Mountain Foundation, 133 So. Van Gordon St., Suite 200, Lakewood, CO. 802228
DES respresentative spots Cyanobacteria near the Kilnwood Beach
On Tuesday October 11 a DES Beach Program personnel conducted a site visit at Lake Kanasatka. Four access points along the shoreline were assessed for evidence of elevated cyanobacteria cell concentrations. Read the whole story here on our Lake News Page.
Changes to the Shoreland Protection Act and authority of municipalities to regulate water resources!
Attend the LRPC Commissioner's Meeting on Monday, September 26th, 6pm at the Meredith Community Center. Go to LRPC's website at for full agenda.
The 2011 Legislative session resulted in several changes to the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act and to Water Resources planning overall. The new act, now called the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act, changes several minimum subdivision and land use standards that had previously been adopted. There is also some uncertainty whether other legislation affected the authority of municipalities to develop local or regional water resource protection plans, and related local regulation. Both are of vital interest.
In the Lakes Region, land use change and land management within the shoreland areas are of critical importance. Much of the region’s economy is directly or indirectly related to water quality, and changes that may increase the vulnerability of the waters to non-point sources of pollution require careful monitoring.
Moreover, the authority of local municipalities to develop water resource protection plans, and regulations has also been questioned due to recent legislation. To help answer these questions, representatives from the NH Department of Environmental Services and the NH Local Government Center will cover the changes associated with the new Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act, as well as key ramifications of the changes related to water resources protection planning.
Given the abundance of water resources in the Lakes Region, this meeting is of special significance and importance to our local communities. Please encourage anyone with an interest in surface and ground water to attend the meeting.
Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association www.winnipesaukee.org
New Hampshire Fish Consumption Guidelines from the Department of Environmental Services. Going Fishing? Are you concerned about the mercury level in the lake's fish? How much fish is safe to eat? Download a Fact Sheet on the subject here
People in Partnership to Create a Watershed Management Plan for Lake Winnipesaukee
A Public Meeting was held on Wed August 24, 2011 where representatives from the Lake Winnepesaukee Watershed Association, Lakes Region Planning Commission, North County RC&D, UNH Cooperative Extension, NH Department of Environmental Services and the Center for the Environment PSU described their plans to “forge a unique, subwatershed approach to enhance economic vitality by protecting the watershed and its scenic beauty. Read the story here in the Lake News.
UNH Cooperative Extention
NH Lakes Lay Monitoring Program
(Center for Freshwater Biology) Has published a newletter titled "Lake Soundings" It has some interesting articles that you may enjoy reading. Click here to read this publication.
Lakes and Rivers Program Budget Cuts
The NH Senate Finance Committee held a public hearing on Thursday, April 21 on the proposed budget and budget cuts. Please read this description of programs and positions facing elimination. Please contact your State Senator and NH Rep. and let them know you oppose these reductions. We currently have a highly cost efficient business model in place that relies heavily on volunteer labor, and financial cash support from business owners, individuals, municipalities, and private organizations to conduct water quality monitoring of our rivers and lakes. This business model is equivalent to hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings to the State of New Hampshire, yet the proposed budget would eliminate 6 positions and several programs which provide much needed support and technical assistance to these efforts. It does not represent good business thinking.
Alert! Bills propose to repeal the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act
Several Bills, now with legs to stand on due to the current composition of the NH House and Senate, propose to repeal the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (CSPA), NH RSA 483-B, one bill proposes significant reform that renders the CSPA nearly useless.
The CPSA plays a critical role with regard to protecting, preserving and restoring NH's water quality and high quality of life. Repealing the CSPA will allow developers to build at will, cut trees and vegetation without limitation and destroy vital riparian buffers. These buffers are the waterbodie's last defense in terms of intercepting stormwater in the form of nutrients and sediments before it directly discharges into NH's public water bodies.
BILL INFORMATION:
HB 470 and SB 20: Propose to repeal the CSPA
SB 154: Reform the CSPA - Hearing, Thursday, 2/17, State Legislative Office Building (LOB).
Please help protect NH's waterbodies and high quality of life! Please, pass this message along and call your local legislatures and voice your concerns.
Click here to determine who your local legislators are: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/whosmyleg/nhmap.html
Information on the existing CSPA: http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wetlands/cspa/index.htm
Light Pollution and the NH Dark Skies Policy
New Hampshire recently enacted a “DARK SKIES POLICY” which recognizes the importance of keeping the natural darkness of rural skies at night and the detrimental effects of light pollution. A growing number of people are concerned about the effects of bright outdoor lighting on nocturnal animals, insects and certain plant species; interference with our ability to see stars and the night skies; and wasted energy.
While the new law currently applies only to public utilities and certain state agencies, it is expected that municipalities will soon adopt provisions to require reduced outdoor lighting and other measures to create more “dark skies” in the town. The Moultonborough Planning Board discussed but did not create such a program this year, but may do so in the future.
Before then, let’s all take a step towards creating a “dark skies” environment on our lake, for the benefit of wildlife, plants that depend on consistent light cycles, and all our lake neighbors. Please become aware of when your outdoor spotlight is on, turn it off early in the evening if not needed, and replace the automatic timer with a single switch that requires you to make a decision when it is on rather than an automatic system. Try to think of other ways you can help reduce nighttime lighting so others in our lake community are not disturbed.
The World Wildlife Fund is again sponsored a Global Event called “Earth Hour” or “Hour of Darkness” on Saturday March 27 from 8:30-9:30 pm. They asked all the world to turn off the lights to enjoy darkness and bring attention to climate change problems that may be caused in part by excessive energy demands http://www.darkskiesawareness.org/earth-hour.php
Here are some other ideas to reduce outdoor light pollution from the New Hampshire Landscapers Association. http://www.nhlandscapers.com/NH-Dark-Sky-Law.html
What is that White Foam?
Have you seen white foam on the lake's shoreline? Chances are it is a natural occurance.
Get the facts here.
Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act
The NH Department of Environmental Services has made the following information available in PDF format for us to download. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the files.
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What
do
I need to know to
comply with the law and
protect water
quality? A brochure with information concerning the CSPA |
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Working with
the
Grid and Points
System in the
Waterfront Buffer.
An article published in the DES June 2008 Newsletter. |
Other news and reports:
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For your information: 
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and the local
weather....
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