A lively crowd of PLIA volunteers gathered on Sunday, September 23, for a cookout at the pavilion in the State Park.



A lively crowd of PLIA volunteers gathered on Sunday, September 23, for a cookout at the pavilion in the State Park.
If you have been reading about Neil Santos and the new PLIA Program he is heading—as well as the discovery of new milfoil growths in Gove’s Cove—then you know how important it is for everyone who loves Pawtuckaway Lake to pitch in wherever they can in our campaign to eradicate milfoil.
Neil is looking for volunteers who like to snorkel and can join his team from time to time as they make their surveys to locate and mark milfoil in the lake. It’s OK if you can’t snorkel with Neil every time his team goes out—now and again would be helpful as the need for more surveys grows. They normally go out for about 1 1/2 hours and are flexible about the time and day of the week.
If you have some experience with snorkeling, have a mask, snorkel, and fins and are interested, please consider joining the team. If you are a diver, your assistance would be particularly valuable.
Even though the team has dubbed itself “Men in Black” since they look for alien species and sometimes wear black wetsuits, women are more than welcome to join. Please contact Neil Santos at 603 437-8468 or at neilsantos@comcast.net if you would like more information or would like to volunteer.
Thank you!
Every year, to celebrate our nation’s birthday, the PLIA organizes a boat parade around Pawtuckaway Lake on July 4th. People decorate all kinds of boats – from pontoons to kayaks to power boats to jet skis – with patriotic or fanciful themes, and congregate at the north end of the lake for our annual parade.
This year is no exception. At 10:00 AM boats gather at the north end near the Twin Islands, proceed southward in a clockwise direction at 10:30 AM, and then cruise slowly in a circle around the lake as boats fall in line behind the leader.
Of course exuberance is always a part of this celebration, and we encourage it! But please, no water balloons!!! Super soakers are a great way to express your enthusiasm without endangering the health of the lake and our wildlife. And see how much fun? —
Amy Smagula, Chief Limnologist/Exotic Species Program Coordinator at NH Department of Environmental Services, has been working closely with the PLIA to identify, detect, and control aquatic invasive species in and around Pawtuckaway Lake. The slideshow presentation she has given at trainings is now available for all to view at the following link: PLIA Smagula Presentation 2018 We strongly recommend that anyone interested in the health of Pawtuckaway take a moment to learn about invasive species, especially milfoil!
Don Roberge, Pawtuckaway camper, fisherman, and volunteer extraordinaire was chosen to receive the PLIA Local Hero Award at this year’s Annual Meeting of the PLIA. He was celebrated for his extraordinary efforts to conserve, protect, and improve Pawtuckaway Lake, largely from the campgrounds of the State Park where he loves to pitch his tent throughout the season. Although he is a resident of Manchester, Don has long been a fan of the lake and spends countless hours enjoying its beauty from his campsite and on his boat. He has volunteered with the PLIA’s Weed Watchers, has joined the crew on road cleanup days, and has stayed into the fall to help clean up the island trash that gets exposed when the lake level is lowered. He decorates his boat for the PLIA Fourth of July Boat Parade and recently even donated a bench to the State Park near his favorite campsite. It is situated specifically to watch the glorious sunsets from the North Channel, and Don recommends it for that purpose. But he also invites the public to rest and relax while their senses take in the beauty of the lake and its wildlife. Thank you, Don, for all you do!
If you missed the PLIA table at Nottingham Earth Day on May 12th, don’t worry! We’ll have even more on offer at our Annual Meeting from 9:00 AM to noon on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at the Nottingham Town Offices, Community Gym. You can try your luck at our raffle, with prizes from ten different community businesses. Renew your membership–or join the PLIA–for a tax-exempt donation! There will be a slide presentation highlighting our activities and achievements in 2017. We will be bestowing an award to a Local Hero for uncommon service to the PLIA and Pawtuckaway Lake. There will be four breakout groups on various topics–in two sessions–so you can participate in two different discussions. Come at 8:30 for refreshments, raffle tickets, and schmoozing with friends and neighbors. There will be something for everyone! Read all about what’s planned in greater detail, in our Spring PawPrints newsletter.