Every year, NH LAKES hosts Lakes Congress—our highly anticipated and frequently sold-out daylong education, training, and networking event.
New Hampshire’s lakes face growing threats from polluted runoff water, invasive species, climate change, and development pressure. Lakes Congress brings together natural resource stewards, managers, business leaders, and municipal and political leaders to confront these urgent challenges head-on.
Attendees come seeking knowledge and the skills they need to educate, advocate, and organize, and leave equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to act now.
For anyone who loves New Hampshire’s lakes, Lakes Congress is a meaningful opportunity to learn, connect, and play an active role in preserving these treasured natural resources for future generations.
Lakes Congress 2026
On the upcoming 15th anniversary of his passing, we dedicate the 2026 NH LAKES Congress to the life and legacy of Jody N. Connor, whose commitment to protecting New Hampshire’s lakes continues to shape our work today.
Jody served the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for 32 years, including 20 years as Director of the Limnology Center, renamed the Jody Connor Limnology Center in 2012 in recognition of his tremendous contributions.
He was instrumental in establishing programs that remain foundational to lake protection efforts across the state today, including the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program, Clean Lakes Program, Exotic Species Program, and the Beach Inspection Program.
Jody’s lasting impact can still be seen in the hundreds of volunteers, scientists, and lake stewards who continue the work he so passionately advanced. His legacy lives on through the ongoing protection of New Hampshire’s lakes and ponds.
2026 Presentations
Keynote Address
Why Should Anyone Care About Your Lake? Using Engagement Mindsets to Turn Apathy into Action. Presented by Kivi Leroux Miller, Founder and CSO of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide
Session 1
A. Lakes in the Legislature: 2026 Policy Update and How You Can Make a Difference. Presented by: Andrea LaMoreaux, President and Policy Advocate, NH LAKES
B. Cyanobacteria and Algal Identification Workshop: Seeing What’s in the Water. Presented by: Dr. Ken Wagner, Owner, Water Resource Services, Inc.; Laura Diemer, Senior Project Manager/Lake Services Lead, FB Environmental; Dr. Amanda McQuaid, Associate Extension State Specialist and Professor of Water Quality and Ecotoxicology/Director of Lakes Lay Monitoring Program, University of New Hampshire
C. Management of Aquatic Invasive Species in New Hampshire’s Lakes. Presented by: Pauline Tessier, Silver Lake, Tilton; Jeff Evans, Lake Pemigewasset; Dave Gould, Lake Winnipesaukee; and Neil Santos, Pawtuckaway Lake. Moderated by Amy P. Smagula, Director, Jody Connor Limnology Center, Chief Aquatic Biologist, and Georgia Bunnell, Limnologist, Aquatic Invasive Species Program, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
D. Tell Better Stories: How to Write Three Types of Stories Your Community Will Respond To. Presented by: Kivi Leroux Miller, Founder and CSO of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide
Session 2
A. Lake-Friendly Land Use: Municipal Ordinances and Overlays That Protect Water Quality. Presented by: Norm Royce, NH LAKES Board Member and Northwood Conservation Commission; Carol Meise and Doug Southard, Town of Bradford
B. Aquatic Plant Identification Workshop: Natives vs. Invasives. Presented by: Brea Arvidson, Director of Programs, and Hannah Coppola, Conservation Program Coordinator, NH LAKES
C. From Shoreline to Solution: Interactive Lake-Friendly Fixes You Can Do Yourself. Presented by: Kat Kelleher, Conservation Program Coordinator, NH LAKES
D. How Social Media Really Works Now and How to Avoid Wasting Your Time with It. Presented by: Kivi Leroux Miller, Founder and CSO of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide
Session 3
A. Stronger Together: Collaborative Approaches to Successful Municipal Code Enforcement. Presented by: Dwight Trueblood, Chair, and Neil Slepian, Vice-Chair, Durham Coastal Conservation Commission; Cris Blackstone, Town of Newmarket; Facilitated by Barbara Richter, Executive Director, New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions (This panel discussion did not have slides.)
B. Climate Change and Our Lakes: What It Means for New Hampshire. Presented by: Craig Williamson, Ph.D., retired Emeritus Professor of Biology
C. LakeSmart in Action: New Online Tools and a Community-Based Approach. Presented by: Brea Arvidson, Director of Programs, and Kat Kelleher, Conservation Coordinator, NH LAKES
D. Becoming a 501(c)(3): A Practical Guide for Lake Associations. Presented by: Jared Davis, Assistant Director, Charitable Trusts, New Hampshire Department of Justice; Gil Watkins, Treasurer, Perkins Pond Protective Association; Thomas Farmen, CLEAR Trust
Session 4
A. Run for Office: Help Shape Local and State Lake Policy. Facilitated by Andrea LaMoreaux, President and Policy Advocate, NH LAKES, and a panel of New Hampshire Legislators and municipal officials (This panel discussion did not have slides.)
B. Managing Healthy Shoreland Vegetation: Forest Health, Regulations, and Best Practices. Presented by: Ryan Crandall, Forest Health Program Manager, New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands; Ryan Duquette, Shoreland Supervisor, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
C. Smart Salt Solutions: Municipal Salt Management Planning for Lake Protection. Presented by: Aubrey Voelker, Salt Reduction Program Coordinator, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services; Scott Kindmond, Technical Specialist, University of New Hampshire Technology Transfer Center; Stu Greer and Mike Thomas, Lake Sunapee Protective Association Watershed Committee
D. Finding Funding: Grant and Loan Program Partnerships to Support Lake and Watershed Planning and Implementation Projects. Presented by: Steve Landry, Supervisor, Watershed Assistance Section, and Katie Zink, Watershed Grant Coordinator, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services; Kyle Pimental, Strafford Regional Planning Commission; Glenn Pogust, Town of Sutton
This event can only happen with the support of our sponsor and exhibitors:
2026 Sponsors:
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation,The Lovett-Woodsum Foundation, The Byrne Foundation, and Speedy Printing
2026 Exhibitors:
Contech Engineered Solutions
Endyne Inc.
FB Environmental Associates, LLC
Lake Life Brand
Lake Sunapee Protective Association
League of Conservation Voters
Loon Preservation Committee
Naiad Technologies
New Hampshire Environmental Educators (NHEE)
New Hampshire Rivers Council
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
Northwood Conservation Commission
Odd Duck LLC
Six-Legged Society
SOLitude Lake Management
UNH
Wolfeboro Waters