Concord, N.H., August 21, 2024 – Thanks to the efforts of NH LAKES’ Lake Hosts, many of New Hampshire’s most popular lakes continue to be protected from the spread of invasive species this summer. The primary way invasive species—animals like the zebra mussel and plants like variable milfoil—spread from waterbody to waterbody is by hitching rides on boats that have not been adequately cleaned, drained, and dried between waterbodies.
Judy Capreralla has been watching Conway Lake as a Lake Host with NH LAKES for nine years. In early August, a pontoon boat arrived at the Conway Lake launch from Lake Zoar in Connecticut. While inspecting the boat before its launch, Judy found zebra mussels hiding in all the nooks and crannies of the pontoons. This is an extremely important save because New Hampshire has no known zebra mussel infestations. The boater understood the issue and decided to take the boat home and clean it more thoroughly.
New Hampshire has had zebra mussel scares in the past, and our lakes continue to be vulnerable. These freshwater mussels have an extremely high reproductive rate of 30,000 to 1,000,000 new mussels per year and can reproduce at one year of age. They quickly accumulate and cover boat hulls, motors, and most hard surfaces, including docks and rocky lake bottoms. They can foul motors and water intake pipes, and their razor-sharp shells make it unpleasant and dangerous to walk in the water.
“We’re relieved that Judy was at the ramp that day,” explains Brea Arvidson, NH LAKES Director of Programs. “A zebra mussel infestation in pristine Conway Lake would be devastating.”
Judy is one of over 600 Lake Hosts throughout the state who serve as our lakes’ frontline of defense against the spread of aquatic invasive plants and animals. Since the Lake Host Program began in 2002, Lake Hosts have inspected nearly 1.6 million boats and made over 1,500 saves. In addition to this save, Lake Hosts have made critical saves at other locations this summer. Learn about those saves at nhlakes.org/lake-host.
by Ale Consulting