On a cloudy, drizzly morning in late May, Rena Connor showed up for her Lake Host shift at the Georges’ Mills boat ramp, expecting a slow day. But during one of her boat inspections, she uncovered a surprise: curly-leaf pondweed, an invasive species, had invaded her beloved Lake Sunapee.
Rena's Vigilance Paid Off
“I was inspecting a barge leaving the lake, and there was a piece of weed draped over the trailer,” Rena explained to NH LAKES. “I couldn’t believe it! It wasn’t a good weather day, so I was familiarizing myself with invasive species and recognized it immediately.”
Even though the boat was departing pristine Lake Sunapee, Rena’s job was to inspect it for invasive species—just in case. Because of Rena’s diligence as a Lake Host in checking every boat coming in or out of the lake, the Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA) was able to take quick action.
The Lake Sunapee Community Worked Together
After Rena’s find, Susie Burbidge, Water Steward and Program Coordinator for the Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA), and Dave Beardsley, Chair of LSPA’s Aquatic Invasive Species Committee, got in their kayaks to inspect the area around the ramp. Susie’s heart sank when she spotted a patch of invasive curly-leaf pondweed growing close to the boat ramp.
A few days later, trained divers were called in. They carefully removed 15 invasive curly-leaf pondweed plants by hand, closing the ramp for the day to ensure no piece was left behind. Even the tiniest fragment could cause a new infestation elsewhere in the lake.
“Early detection is critical,” Susie said. “This is a prime example of why the Lake Host Program is important, as it brought an infestation to our attention that we could deal with quickly.”
Thanks to supporters, Lake Hosts like Rena perform free boat inspections across New Hampshire, preventing the spread of invasive species. In this case, they caught an infestation early, saving Lake Sunapee from a potentially devastating problem.
You can be a hero and prevent the spread of invasive species! Remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat, trailer, and gear each time you enter and leave a waterbody to prevent the spread of invasive species like curly-leaf pondweed. Learn more at nhlakes.org/clean-drain-dry and help protect your favorite lake from invasive species today.
by Ale Consulting