Lakes Congress
Every year, NH LAKES presents our highly anticipated and frequently sold-out event, Lakes Congress. This daylong education, training, and networking event brings together natural resource stewards, managers, business leaders, and municipal and political leaders. Our Lakes Congress attendees come seeking knowledge and the skills they need to educate, advocate, and organize.
Save the date for Lakes Congress 2026–Friday, June 5 at the Grappone Conference Center.
Lakes Congress 2025—Success!
WOW, what a great day we had! On Thursday, June 5, we welcomed 275 lake conservation enthusiasts to Lakes Congress at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. Attendees raved about the quality of the sessions, the speakers’ expertise, the variety of exhibitors, the positive atmosphere, and the opportunity to meet with others who care about our lakes.
We were pleased to receive letters of well wishes for the day from Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator Maggie Hassan, which you can read below.
Letter from Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Letter from Senator Maggie Hassan
If you were able to join us and there were sessions you were hoping to get to but didn’t, or if you want to share slides with your friends or colleagues, you can find the presentations below.
Presentations
Keynote Address
The Evolution of Lake Management: What can we learn from the past for a clear future? – Presented by: Dr. Ken Wagner, Owner, Water Resource Services, Inc.
Track A: Lake-Friendly Public Policy and Advocacy
Lakes Legislative Update – Presented by: Andrea LaMoreaux, President and Policy Advocate, NH LAKES
Municipal Ordinances to Protect Lake Health – Presented by: Nisa Marks, Watershed Coordinator, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services; Dan Regan, Town of Enfield; Elizabeth Harper, Lake Sunapee Protective Association
Cyanobacteria Committees: Why Your Community Needs One – Presented by: Nisa Marks, Watershed Coordinator, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services; Doug Darling, Tucker Pond Improvement Association; Kevin Kelly, Moultonborough Cyanobacteria Committee; Warren Muir, Wolfeboro Waters
Managing Proposed Land Development Projects in Your Watershed – Presented by: Bette Higley, Meredith Neck and Island Alliance; Pam Kelly, Pawtuckaway Lake Improvement Association; Elizabeth Harper, Executive Director, Lake Sunapee Protective Association
Track B: Your Lake and Watershed Management Toolbox
Management of Polluted Runoff Water in New Hampshire’s Watersheds – Presented by: Sally Soule, Coastal Watershed Supervisor, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
In-Lake Management Treatments for Cyanobacteria – Presented by: Laura Diemer, Senior Project Manager/Lake Services Lead, FB Environmental
Addressing Erosion at Your Boat Launch – Presented by: Jon Balanoff, Executive Director, Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance; Celeste Lunetta, Recreation Director, Town of Antrim; Sally Soule, Coastal Watershed Supervisor, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
Putting Your Property and Community on a Low-Salt Diet – Presented by: Aubrey Voelker, Salt Reduction Program Coordinator, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
Track C: Communities Taking Action
Management of Aquatic Invasive Species in New Hampshire’s Lakes – Presented by: Neil Santos, Pawtuckaway Lake Improvement Association; Wayne Sylvester, Vice President, Three Ponds Protective Association; Lisa Eggleston, Winnisquam Watershed Network
Restoring the Water Quality of Danforth Ponds – Presented by: Moselle Spiller, Outreach Coordinator, Green Mountain Conservation Group; Frank and Kathy Lalumie, Friends of Danforth Pond
Communities Making Lake-Friendly Living the Norm – Presented by: Brea Arvidson, Director of Programs, NH LAKES; Kat Kelleher, Conservation Program Coordinator, NH LAKES; and Beth Olshansky, Mendum’s Pond Community Member
Bringing Lake Kanasatka Back to Good Health – Presented by: Lisa Hutchinson and Kirk Meloney, Lake Kanasatka Watershed Association; Bob Craycraft, Lakes Monitoring Program Manager, University of New Hampshire
Track D: Resources for Lake Associations
Grants to Restore and Preserve Watershed and Lake Health – Presented by: Steve Landry, Section Supervisor of the Watershed Assistance Program, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
Getting Your Message Out to the Media – Presented by: Mara Hoplamazian, Reporter, NHPR
Slides unavailable – reach out to Mara if you have questions about their presentation.
Lake Life Under the Microscope – Presented by: Amanda McQuaid, Associate Extension State Specialist and Professor of Water Quality and Ecotoxicology/Director of Lakes Lay Monitoring Program, University of New Hampshire
Updates from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Cyanobacteria Program – Presented by: Nisa Marks, Watershed Coordinator, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services; Michele Busi, Beach Program Coordinator, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
This event can only happen with the support of our sponsors and exhibitors.
If you are a business or organization that values clean and healthy lakes, we invite you to join our team of Lakes Congress exhibitors and sponsors. Your partnership will not only keep the annual Lakes Congress tradition going, here’s what it will do for you and your team:
Targeted Quality Sessions
Associate your products and brand with quality! Lakes Congress has a reputation for providing high-quality sessions on a wide range of lake management topics to a targeted field of lake and other natural resource stewards, managers, business leaders, and municipal and political leaders.
Premium Attendees
As a sponsor, you will extend your brand visibility to an audience of 300 attendees. NH LAKES leads the way in lake management education across New Hampshire, drawing upon community leaders and business decision-makers within the field.
Enhanced Sponsor Image
Build upon your brand identification and strengthen your corporate image through an association with NH LAKES, our valued supporters, high-quality publications and programming, and the superior sessions at Lakes Congress.
Thank you to our 2025 Lakes Congress Sponsors!
The Lovett-Woodsum Foundation
The Byrne Foundation
by Martech Consulting