Boating season always seems too short, but it is time to start thinking about the lowering of the lake this fall!
According to C. Wayne Ives, P.G., Hydrogeologist, NH Department of Environmental Services, the Dam Bureau has sent out the planned drawdown dates on its website and as a press release: https://www.des.nh.gov/news-and-media/state-announces-its-2021-fall-drawdown-lakes.
As usual, the Pawtuckaway Lake drawdown is scheduled to begin on Columbus Day, October 11.
The fall drawdown plan is still to release 70 percent of the water from Drowns Dam and 30 percent from Dolloff over the
fall and winter. Releasing water mainly from Drowns is part of the plan for exporting more phosphorus from the lake, especially during mid to late November into early December when phosphorus spikes have occurred at Drowns in the past. However, over a short period, we will still be letting the alewives out first by starting the drawdown from Dolloff before that period of higher phosphorus occurs. This is because the alewives will go over the dam at Dolloff (in photo above), but do not go under the Drowns gate. Dolloff needs to be opened by itself because when both dams are open, the alewives are more attracted to the larger flows at Drowns, but they can’t get out there. So to accomplish both goals of exporting phosphorus and alewives, we will again start releasing from Dolloff for the alewives, then, after a week or so, will open both dams at the 70/30 flow rates for the phosphorus export.
Wayne is still trying to get the Drowns gate replaced with one that would pass alewives. Then there would be no need to start the drawdown at Dolloff.
So, make your plans now for end-of-summer boating and get ready for taking your boat out this fall!
And meanwhile, see you on the lake!
Fundraiser for the 
Perks for participants include:
At 2:00 pm paddlers start arriving at any of the five card-pickup stations on Pawtuckaway Lake. Over the next two hours, paddlers make their way to all five stations, picking up a playing card at each station. Refreshments will be served at each station.
Paddlers using any type of human-propelled boat are eligible.
Raffle Prizes 
Thanks to our sponsor: 
Route map for 2021 Pawtuckaway Paddle Poker
FOR THE PAWTUCKAWAY LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (PLIA)
Every year, the PLIA produces two versions of its newsletter; one in print to mail out and the other an electronic edition to share online. The print version – in black and white – has been mailed, so here we present the e-version – in color.
The Annual Weed Watcher Training is both a refresher course for veteran Weed Watchers and a training for new members – Welcome! First, of all, thank you for being a Weed Watcher. You are protecting and preserving our lake. Member Therese Thompson, our area invasive species expert, will conduct the training. Material covered can be found in her slideshow 
This year is the 14th year of the of the rejuvenated Weed Watchers. To celebrate over a decade of Weed Watching and in memory of one of its pioneers, Lee Bartlett, there are now new Weed Watcher tee shirts for all volunteers who have been active during the 2020 season and for new members at no charge. Lee is the one with a crutch in the group wearing the old tee shirts. What spirit!
And to the left is a picture of what the new tee shirts will look like. They are eye-catching and elegant.
Thanks to all our generous membership donations, the PLIA’s Milfoil Management Team has been able to acquire new gear to expand and improve their search and removal operations!
In addition, with dedicated funds we paid for the Weed Control Diver certification of three PADI divers, allowing us to remove milfoil quickly and without dependence on outside organizations to do it for us.
Lake Hosts inspect boats BEFORE their entry, preventing infestations and saving hours of searching and extraction; they also educate boaters about the dangers of aquatic invasive species;
Weed Watchers cruise the lake to find suspicious or infected locations of all kinds of invasive plants, and once detected, remove all but milfoil, which can only be extracted by certified divers;
Milfoil Management team members search for and extract milfoil infestations with the assistance of kayak support to ensure safety.
that supports our mission to protect property and recreational values for everyone who uses the lake:
Last year, the PLIA applied for and received a grant from the Lamprey River Advisory Committee to purchase a side scan sonar device. We hope to use this equipment in our Milfoil Management Program for searching large areas of the lake by boat to locate possible new areas of milfoil. Last fall, Neil Santos, our Milfoil Team Chair, tested the equipment and wrote a report about its potential use and efficacy. It is one more tool in our arsenal to fight milfoil in Pawtuckaway. We thank the Lamprey River Advisory Committee for their generous support and for giving us this opportunity to explore new avenues to respond to the threat of invasive aquatic species in NH lakes. Pawtuckaway Lake is part of the Lamprey River Watershed and keeping it clean benefits the entire system. You can read Neil’s report