Author: Pam Kelly

Our Milfoil Search Team started its summer activities on Pawtuckaway Lake on June 1. So far PLIA volunteers John Hudson, Jim Kelly, and Neil Santos have conducted three snorkeling sessions in the area near the State Park Horse Island boat launch in the South Channel. They have found several small milfoil plants that were marked for removal by NH DES divers on June 9. A larger milfoil plant in the area of the red and white buoy was found by the certified scuba-diving relative of a lake resident, but subsequent attempts to locate it again have not been successful. This effort, and underwater searching in general, has been hampered by the murky conditions due to the amount of pollen suspended in the water. Underwater visibility has been less than 4 feet, but should improve in the next few weeks as the pollen settles to the bottom. The Search Team should then be able to get a better assessment of the overall milfoil situation in the South Channel.  Their activities in the South Channel will continue throughout the summer and NH DES divers will return periodically to remove any milfoil plants that are found. Several additional snorkelers and scuba divers have expressed an interest in helping with these efforts and more assistance is always welcome.

We ask all boaters to please stay well clear of any orange milfoil markers in the South Channel and, for the safety of our Milfoil Search Team, stay at least 100 feet away from any “Diver Down” flags that you see anywhere in the lake.

Do you know what this flag means?  Have you seen one on the lake?  If you do, this is the Diver-Down flag.  It means that a diver or snorkeler is within 75 feet of their flag.  It also means that ALL boats/vessels must stay at least 150 feet from a displayed Diver-Down flag per NH State law.

Frequently there are divers and snorkelers in South Channel searching for milfoil plants, to identify any plants that may have taken root and mark them for removal.

For the safety of these divers and snorkelers who volunteer their time for the benefit of the lake, we ask that you respect this flag, keep your distance, and reduce your speed.  Please remember that South Channel is a no wake zone and speeds should be kept down at all times, anyway.  There are markers at both ends of the channel as reminders. And please spread the word!

Thanks as always for your support.

In a new location and on an earlier date, the Annual Meeting of the Pawtuckaway Lake Improvement Association was well attended this year, with about 70 participants.

President John Decker presided over the business meeting, in which a new Board member, Susan Hayes, was elected and five other Board members whose terms were expiring were elected for another two years. The Board of Directors’ proposal to amend the Bylaws in order to change the membership year from June 1 – May 31 to January 1 – December 31 was also approved unanimously.

Treasurer Ed Kotowski presented the year-end Financial Report and Dee Decker gave the Membership Report, explaining that less than half the households on and around the lake are members and urging those present to encourage neighbors and friends to join the PLIA.

John Decker summarized the milfoil situation to date and all the efforts last year to locate, prevent the spread, and remove it from the South Channel.  Boaters who avoided the South Channel last season were commended for their cooperation. Milfoil was not detected as of last fall, but it is a stubborn adversary and may reappear this year.  Weed Watcher Neil Santos described the work of his snorkel team to regularly patrol the South Channel searching for and marking any new growths for removal by the DES divers. Vice President Tom Duffy invited anyone who is a PADI certified diver to join Neil’s team in locating (but not removing!) milfoil. Divers with open water certification may take the milfoil removal training offered by the State, with the possibility of scheduling a locally conducted course.

In response to a question from a member about closing the South Channel to boat traffic, John Decker advised that we don’t have the authority to take such action and the State has not determined that the infestation is severe or widespread enough for such a measure.

Lake Host Coordinator Dee Decker reported on the activities of that Program last year and summarized the changes coming this year. A “Pull Your Plug” theme will be emphasized in the new campaign of Clean, Drain, and Dry your boating equipment. The State is very invested in this Program and a valuable partner in our efforts to prevent and control invasive species in Pawtuckaway. A new law was passed in NH that prohibits the transport of invasive species—whether knowingly or not—on boating equipment, and which carries fines and penalties.

Weed Watcher Co-Chair Steve Soreff urged members to keep their eyes open for invasive weeds whenever they are out on the lake. He reminded members that it was one of our Weed Watchers who initially detected the first growths of milfoil in 2015.

John Decker announced the development of a PLIA Facebook group for members only.  Look for coming announcements!  He reminded everyone present to be good lake stewards, help clean up debris, and avoid water balloons on the lake. Give a hoot; don’t pollute.

Tom Duffy conducted a Milfoil Challenge to test the knowledge of PLIA members, and was pleasantly surprised that most knew a lot about this invasive weed and how best to control it.  Everyone deserved a prize!

You can look at the power point slides presented to members at the meeting here:  PLIA Annual 2017.ppsx

Following the business portion of the meeting, members broke into small discussion groups led by Paul Miliotis (winged wildlife on Pawtuckaway), Tom Duffy (developing your property—Shoreland Protection truth and fiction), Dee Decker (Clean, Drain, Dry and the Lake Host Program), and Steve Soreff (history of Pawtuckaway Lake and the State Park).

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR MEMBERS!
YOU ARE ESSENTIAL TO WHAT WE DO! 

On Saturday, April 22—Earth Day—volunteers from the Pawtuckaway Lake Improvement Association gathered along a stretch of Route 156 to pick up trash along the highway. What better timing for this project?

Now that the snows of winter have melted, the trash that lay hidden beneath their depths was highly visible, and therefore easier to spot and to remove.

Twice a year, PLIA members gather on Route 156 to spend an hour or so fanning out along both sides of the highway between the signs bearing the organization’s name. It is a program of which the PLIA is proud, and is one way to give back to the community.

And don’t forget –

The Annual Meeting is May 20, 9:00 AM at the Nottingham Town Offices—please join us!

The PLIA’s annual newsletter, Pawrints, has just been issued, and you can read it here:  Pawprints 2017 edition

According to Wayne Ives of NHDES:

“As of 7 am this morning (April 12), the lake level gage indicates that Pawtuckaway Lake was full and it is now spilling water over the spillways.

The spillway elevations at Drowns and Dolloff are 250.4 feet.

This water level is not the highest that the lake goes in the spring, but these conditions are considered “full.”

You can see the lake level conditions here

WHERE:  Nottingham Municipal Building, Conference Room #1

WHEN:   April 8, 2017

TIME:     9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

This is a combined event!  Amy Smagula from NH DES will be coming from 9 – 11 for the Weed Watcher portion.

We will break for pizza and then Dee Decker, PLIA Lake Host Program Coordinator, will conduct the Lake Host portion of the training.

If you are interested in attending the training on April 8, please contact either Steve Soreff, Weed Watcher Co-Chair, SoreffS15@aol.com or tel. 603 568-3202; or Dee Decker, Lake Host Coordinator, deedecker.plia@gmail.com or tel. 603 498-3830.  It is important that we get a head count!

All Lake Host volunteers must attend a local training each year. There are also trainings at NH LAKES for Lake Hosts that volunteers are welcome to attend. Here is a link to the trainings.

The PLIA is trying a new approach to summer this year, kicking off the season with an earlier Annual Meeting.  The new date will be:

May 20, 2017

So, please mark your calendars now!!!

There is much work to be done in planning for a new season of lake activity.  There are volunteers to recruit, Lake Hosts and Weed Watchers to train, information to broadcast, questions to answer, and many events to coordinate.  It helps to get a jump on things by starting earlier, so this year we will be doing just that.

In addition, we are pleased to announce a new LOCATION for our Annual Meeting:

Multipurpose Room,

Nottingham Town Offices

139 Stage Road

And meanwhile, see you on the lake!

Recently Pawtuckaway Lake Weed Watchers conducted their annual island trash pick-up on the weekend of Saturday December 3 and Sunday December 4.

For safety, volunteers don life vests, warm clothing, and waterproof shoes or boots and employ the buddy system because of potential danger in icy waters.

This year, the lake level dropped for the winter later in the season than usual.  But when the water level is low and before the snow comes, more of the shoreline is exposed, both around the lake front and the islands. That’s the best time to spot and remove some of the debris that has accumulated during the busy summer season.  Trash, items that have fallen from watercraft or washed off shores, the remains of fireworks displays, and other recreational items left behind by visitors are more visible when the water is low.  In the summer, currents wash this debris to the rocky island perimeters, where it is exposed to view in the late fall and can be collected.

Despite a cold stiff breeze, many of the Weed Watchers braved the elements and picked up trash on and around the islands. They reported less trash than they removed last year.  This annual event represents the PLIA’s commitment to protect and preserve the natural beauty the lake.  And, as if on cue, it snowed Monday, December 5, demonstrating that timing is everything.