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Happy July! As the summer season commences, the Harbor has come alive with people enjoying Lake Sunapee. From boating to swimming to picnicking by the shore, it's wonderful to see so many families and friends making the most of this beautiful season.
LSPA staff, board and volunteers have been hard at work coordinating Lake Hosts and Invasive watchers, adding instrumentation to the new Water Quality Buoy, leading educational programs, and implementing our Watershed Management Plan.
Have you noticed our new look? In 2023, as we celebrated our 125-year history, we looked ahead to our next chapter as an organization. We worked toward developing a new logo in 2024, which symbolizes our commitment to ensuring a bright and vibrant future for the Lake Sunapee Watershed. We are committed to meeting the challenges we face with a collaborative and proactive approach that builds on our past successes.
It’s a wonderful time to be involved at LSPA! There are countless ways to make a difference and share in our mission of protecting and preserving the Lake Sunapee Watershed for future generations.
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Become a member: Membership donations fund the majority of LSPA's work.
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Donate: Support our initiatives financially to help us continue our important work.
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Visit us: The Center for Lake Studies is open Monday- Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
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Join us: Attend our events and bring a friend.
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Volunteer: We always need helping hands whether it's at the Center for Lake Studies or on the water.
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Spread the word: Share LSPA's mission, so we can continue our stewardship for generations to come.
Check out the Events Page on our website and follow us on social media for the latest updates and event announcements. We're excited about what's ahead and hope you are, too!
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Join Us for Our Upcoming July Events | |
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LSPA Annual Meeting
Saturday, July 20
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
LSPA Center for Lake Studies (map)
Save the Date! Please join us for our Annual Meeting to elect new officers and directors and to welcome new members. Our keynote speaker, Don Kretchmer, of DK Water Resource Consulting will provide an overview of the threats facing New Hampshire lakes and the successes of LSPA’s approaches to maintaining the water quality of the Lake Sunapee Watershed. Join us to learn more about our programs and projects. This event is open to the public.
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Lighthouse Work Starting This Summer - How you can Help!
LSPA has contracted with the Hansen Marine division of Hansen Bridge LLC of Springfield, NH for the major project of constructing new support structures for the Herrick Cove and Burkehaven lighthouses. Work on Herrick Cove will be done this summer/fall, with Burkehaven to follow, this fall or spring 2025. New steel supports embedded in the bottom of the lake will replace the wood and rock cribs which deteriorate and need replacing every 15-20 years. This robust approach should have a lifetime of 60+ years. NH Department of Environmental Services has welcomed this solution as more environmentally sound and less disruptive to lake water flow.
LSPA’s facilities committee, chaired by board member Frank LeMay, who is an engineer and contractor, worked with a marine engineer from Civilworks New England to evaluate the concept and design the new supports.
As stewards of the lighthouses on Lake Sunapee, LSPA seeks donations to the Lighthouse Fund from all who love these historic structures. Project costs of new structures for the Herrick Cove and Burkehaven lighthouses include engineering, permitting, and construction. The total campaign goal is $1,300,000, which includes replacing the support structures for Herrick Cove and Burkehaven lighthouses as well as replenishing the Lighthouse Fund for ongoing regular maintenance.
Gifts of all sizes are welcome. LSPA, as in the past, is the agent for these restricted funds designated only for the future of the lighthouses. These gifts are separate from LSPA’s annual membership support and general donations.
You can become a Lighthouse Keeper and help save Lake Sunapee's iconic lighthouses by making your contribution check out to LSPA Lighthouse Fund and mailing it to PO Box 683 Sunapee, NH 03782, or by credit card at lakesunapee.org/lighthouses. Gifts of stock or from IRAs may be arranged for donors who wish to do so. Please contact LSPA with any questions at 603-736-2210.
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Loon Updates
On June 12th, LSPA co-hosted a Loon Cruise with the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC). Caroline Hughes, Biologist and Outreach Coordinator from LPC shared a wealth of knowledge with attendees about loon natural history, threats to loons and the work LPC does to protect these magnificent birds. During the cruise we confirmed that there is another banded loon on Lake Sunapee! We could only see three out of the four leg bands, though, so we are not certain of its identity quite yet.
Lake Sunapee welcomed its first loon chick of the 2024 season around June 23! Another pair is still incubating their egg(s) but it is due to hatch any day now. A third pair of loons continues to hop on and off of a nesting raft but they have not put down eggs yet. On June 25, there was a huge territorial dispute in that area which might explain why they haven’t nested. It takes a lot of energy for a pair of loons to defend their territory from intruding loons.
If you come across an adult loon or an adult loon with chicks, please remember to stay at least 150 feet away.
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Photo by Anthony Dolan. This loon and loon chick are on Perkins Pond. | |
Cyanobacteria Blooms Are Being Reported Around the State | A cyanobacteria bloom on Pleasant Lake in New London near the mooring area in Elkins, the bloom has since gone away.
Photo: Pleasant Lake Protective Association. | |
Cyanobacteria blooms have been reported on several lakes in New Hampshire already this year, including Pleasant Lake, Mascoma Lake and Lake Winnipesaukee. So far, no blooms have been reported in the Lake Sunapee Watershed, but it is more important than ever that we all take proactive steps to prevent cyanobacteria outbreaks.
Cyanobacteria blooms are most likely to occur when nutrient levels in lakes are high. You can reduce the chance of toxic cyanobacteria blooms through these actions:
- Do not apply fertilizer within 100+ feet of shorelines and streams
- Pump your septic tank every 3 years and inspect the whole system frequently
- Pick up your pet waste
- Direct stormwater and roof runoff into rain gardens and natural areas
- Minimize your lawn area and plant a wide buffer (at least 50 feet or more) if your property is along the water's edge
For more information, visit LSPA's "Let's Be Clear" webpage or watch this great video.
If you suspect a bloom on Lake Sunapee, call LSPA at (603) 763-2210 or send an email to Susie at susieb@lakesunapee.org. We will come take a look and collect a water sample if necessary. And, please avoid contact with water and keep your children and pets out too.
You can also call or text the DES hotline at (603) 848-8094 or email HAB@des.nh.gov. Or report your sightings directly to NHDES using their online form.
Stay up-to-date on current conditions with these resources from NHDES:
Healthy Swimming Mapper
Harmful Algal Blooms Information
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LSPA Interns
LSPAs interns have been busy this past month. They’ve been dedicating many hours in the lab at Colby-Sawyer College running water samples from lakes across the region, helping our educators with school programs, and helping plant a rain garden at Bucklin Beach, all while conducting their regular tributary water sampling and monthly deep-site sampling on Lake Sunapee.
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New eDNA Project
LSPA intern Vinny Leone, a recent graduate of New England College, is working on a project this summer that will help us better understand what plants, animals, and bacteria are found in Lake Sunapee. In collaboration with New England College Professor Dr. Geoff Cook and UNH’s Hubbard Center for Genome Studies, Vinny is collecting water samples and filtering the DNA that is shed by organisms in the lake. The DNA can then be amplified and analyzed to identify the species found in the lake. This technique provides information about the lake foodweb and also has the potential to help with early detection of invasive species.
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Invasive Species Prevention: Curly-leaf Pondweed
Over Memorial Day Weekend, one of our Lake Hosts pulled a piece of curly-leaf pondweed off the trailer of a departing boat leaving Lake Sunapee at the Georges Mills ramp. LSPA responded quickly by paddling the area to look for any signs of the invasive plant in the water.
On June 5, two divers hand-pulled all curly-leaf pondweed plants found by the boat ramp in Georges Mills. They extracted about 15 plants total and feel confident that they got it all. LSPA staff and Invasive Watch volunteers will continue to monitor the lake for any signs of curly-leaf pondweed or other aquatic invasive species.
This successful response relied on many amazing partnerships. It began when a piece of curly-leaf pondweed was found by a Lake Host inspecting the trailer of a departing boat. LSPA partners with NH LAKES to bring the Lake Host program to Lake Sunapee. This statewide program is crucial in reducing the spread of aquatic invasives. The Lake Hosts at the five ramps on Lake Sunapee are hired and managed by LSPA staff and are paid with funds from several different sources including: donations from LSPA members, funds contributed by the three waterfront towns (Sunapee, Newbury and New London) and a grant from NH LAKES.
As soon as the Lake Host reported the discovery of curly-leaf pondweed, we quickly alerted Amy Smagula at NHDES who recommended a trained dive team that LSPA hired to hand-pull the plants. The Town of Sunapee and the Sunapee Police Department provided important assistance by closing the boat ramp to allow the divers to work safely.
We do not have any reason to believe that this infestation is widespread in the lake. Areas near all five boat ramps have been surveyed and we will continue to monitor all parts of the lake throughout the summer. We can never have too many eyes on the water, so if you are interested in becoming an Invasive Watch volunteer, please send an email to Susie at susieb@lakesunapee.org.
Early detection is so critical! Some people wonder why Lake Hosts inspect departing boats & trailers but this is a prime example of why they do it. To alert us to a potential problem that we didn't know about! Please always remember to "Clean, Drain & Dry" your boat, trailer and equipment between waterbodies to help prevent the spread.
Click here to learn more about curly-leaf pondweed.
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The Kearsarge Regional Middle School partook in a full day field trip to Wadleigh State Park with LSPA educators. Students participated in six different activities learning about animal population dynamics, orienteering, macroinvertebrates, water usage and its history, greenhouse gases, and the challenge of observing minute details in nature. The 145 middle schoolers, in small groups, rotated through each station which focused
and highlighted specific science curriculum objectives.
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Kindergartens from Sunapee and 1st graders from Bradford Elementary both enjoyed exploring LSPA’s Center for Lake Studies. Students examined pelts, skulls, and the track molds of many NH mammals, spied insect specimens under the microscope, investigated bird nests and many of the other engaging exhibits at LSPA that explain why the health of Lake Sunapee’s watershed is so important. Kathleen Stowell visited Bradford Elementary’s 3rd grade sharing information on the many unique plant and pollinator partnerships. | |
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Nature Exploration Story Time (NEST) finished its spring session with water themed
stories and activities. NEST will begin again on Tuesday, July 9th at 10:00 AM sowing seeds of fun and delight in its start to summer story time.
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Lakes Appreciation Month!
July is Lakes Appreciation Month! What a fabulous time of year to enjoy this region's numerous beautiful lakes. Lakes provide countless restorative benefits. Celebrate Lakes Appreciation Month by bringing attention to the many challenges facing our waterways and encourage people to protect these precious resources.
There’s so much each of us can do to show our appreciation and love for our lakes -Get involved! Be Engaged! Protect What You Love!
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Watershed Wise
Have you ever wondered what you can do on your own property to help protect water quality? Your landscaping choices can have a big impact. LSPA’s Watershed Wise Program helps property owners to identify changes that can be made, such as additional plantings near the water’s edge, to improve the water quality of streams, lakes and ponds within the Lake Sunapee Watershed.
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Let’s Be Clear - Preventing Cyanobacteria Blooms
What you do on your property can have a big impact on water quality! Here are some tips to help keep our lakes and ponds clean and clear:
- Minimize your lawn area and plant trees and shrubs along the water’s edge
- Don’t apply fertilizers within 100+ feet of shorelines and streams
- Pump your septic tank every three years and have the whole system inspected every 10 years
- Direct stormwater from driveways and roofs into forested areas and rain gardens
Remember fertilizers in our lakes = algal blooms. Let's keep our watershed clear!
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Enhanced Riverwalk Project
The Sunapee Charette resulted in many new ideas for the future of Sunapee Harbor. One exciting project to emerge from this community brainstorming event was the Enhanced Riverwalk Project. The Sunapee Heritage Alliance and Sunapee Harbor Riverway Corporation are currently raising funds to plan and implement a new vision for this area along the Sugar River, just across the street from LSPA's Center for Lake Studies. LSPA has been invited to work with the steering committee for this project to envision how it can be used as a location for environmental education in addition to meeting the other objectives of the project. Learn more here.
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Save The Date For These Upcoming August Events: | |
We Are Buoyed! The Story of Lake Sunapee's Global Fame
Tuesday, August 20
4:00 PM
Clements Hall, Colby-Sawyer College
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Please register for this event here. | |
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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 Summer Discoveries page has an abundance of resources for adults to explore the local area during these wonderful summer 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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Be a Lake Sunapee Watershed Explorer!
Get outside, explore and earn a patch!
This summer 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 and when you have completed them fill out the simple documentation form on our website.
You will have good memories, new knowledge and a patch to remember the experience by!
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Outside Observations
July shifts the glorious days of summer into full gear! There’s so much to see and do! Venturing outside, the world seems quite literally a buzz with activity! Bees are doing amazing pollinating work, big iridescent damselflies are hovering about (they’re not strong fliers and you can get close to them if you move slowly), monarchs are returning just as the milkweed is flowering and fireflies are lighting up the skies. Look closely at a firefly! Each species flashes a different pattern. Males are the ones who send the luminescent signals to the flightless females hidden in the grass. Sadly, fireflies are on the decline due to habitat loss and light pollution. Likewise, nighttime outdoor lighting is also disrupting the beautiful large Luna Moth’s habitat. The last days of enjoying these exquisite members of the giant silk moth (Saturniidae) family will be over in the next few weeks. They don’t last very long as adults; they have no mouthparts and devote their energy reserves to breeding. Mosquitoes though, they are now in their prime. And not just a single type of mosquito, like there’s only one. New Hampshire is host to 45 species of mosquito. But the good news is that mosquitoes are an excellent food source for a wide array of creatures from bats, to dragonflies, to a variety of birds, to water striders who eat the mosquito larvae. In nature everything is connected! The long summer days with the extreme heat has everyone from insects to mammals to birds, truly all the animal kingdoms, adapting and seeking ways to cool down.
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There are ways you can help support this area's wildlife through the hot summer days. Have convenient supplies of clean water available. This can make a huge difference to the survival of local wild species such as birds, butterflies and small mammals, during times of extreme heat and drought. Create some fun birdbaths with pots and pans and extra odds and ends! The long days of summer, despite the heat, is the ideal time for growth in the animal world! The young ones are growing and learning to assert themselves! The moose is no exception. A moose's antler growth is incredible. By summer’s end, a large moose may have 25 to 30 pounds of head gear. There are extraordinary things to discover from the mini mosquito to the mighty moose that are all right here in our neck of the woods. The summer is truly glorious! Enjoy and delight in all the natural wonders and beauty of our Lake Sunapee Region!
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To read more about what’s going on during this time of year check out
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Aquatic organisms found in Lake Sunapee's food web. | |
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Send us your favorite pictures around the watershed!
We’re placing a call for photos! If you have photos from around the Lake Sunapee region that you would like to share, please send them to photos@lakesunapee.org and please include your name in your email so we can give you photo credit.
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Photo by Barbara Sadowsky. | |
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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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