Dear Dale,

Halfway through the boating season, New Hampshire's Lake Hosts are already making a tremendous impact in protecting our lakes.

Every day, Lake Hosts inspect boats, educate boaters, and help stop aquatic invasive species before they can spread from one waterbody to another. This season has already seen several important "saves" that demonstrate why these inspections matter.

Here are three recent examples:

🌿 Curly-leaf pondweed at Potanipo Pond (Brookline)
A Lake Host intercepted invasive curly-leaf pondweed attached to a boat before it was launched. While the boater believed the plant came from Potanipo Pond, recent surveys confirmed the pond is not infested with curly-leaf pondweed. This means the plant likely originated elsewhere, highlighting how invasive species can unknowingly hitch a ride on boats from one lake to another.

🎣 Spiny Water Flea at Lake Winnisquam
A Lake Host discovered and removed a cluster of spiny water fleas attached to a boat's rod holder after it had been on Lake Winnipesaukee. While both lakes currently have spiny water flea populations, this invasive save is significant because it shows that these tiny invaders can cling to equipment in places anglers may never think to inspect. It also demonstrates the careful attention and expertise of our Lake Hosts.

🌱 Variable Watermilfoil at Pawtuckaway Lake
Variable watermilfoil was removed from a boat leaving Pawtuckaway Lake, one of New Hampshire's most highly used lakes. Communities around Pawtuckaway invest countless hours and significant resources every year trying to manage this invasive plant growing in the lake. Preventing even one fragment from reaching another lake helps protect waters across the state from the same costly battle.

These are just three of the many suspicious specimens our Lake Hosts have removed this season. Every plant removed from a trailer, every invasive animal found on boating equipment, and every conversation with a boater helps protect New Hampshire's lakes for future generations.

Want to see the impact for yourself? Follow our live Lake Host Saves Tracker to see the latest specimens being intercepted throughout the season.

Thank you to our dedicated Lake Hosts, partner organizations, volunteers, and every boater who takes the time to Clean, Drain, Dry, and Dispose. Together, we're helping to keep New Hampshire's lakes healthy, beautiful, and free of invasive species.

Working for the lakes we all love,

Erin Mastine

Outreach Manager