East Andover. For 2023, ice-in was December 22 and ice-out was on March 18, 2024, equaling 88 days of coverage — about 20 days shorter than the past 10-year winter average.
Water Quality Data Summary.
Per the Department of Environmental Services report: “Great job sampling in 2023! Lake quality is representative of borderline oligotrophic/mesotrophic, or high quality to average, conditions. However, excessive summer rainfall in 2023 resulted in elevated nutrient (phosphorus) and turbidity levels, increased algal growth (chlorophyll), darker water color, and poor water clarity (transparency).
“Hypolimnetic phosphorus levels have also significantly increased since monitoring began, and data indicate a potential internal source of nutrients released from bottom sediments under anoxic (lower dissolved oxygen) conditions. This phosphorus could then be available to fuel algal/cyanobacteria growth. Be observant of the lake, particularly in late summer, for any signs of cyanobacteria and report sightings to NHDES’s Harmful Algal Bloom Program.
“This also highlights the importance of limiting nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. Educate residents on ways to reduce stormwater runoff from their properties using NHDES’s New Hampshire Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Management, and encourage shorefront property owners to be certified LakeSmart through NH LAKES’s lake- friendly living program. Evaluate dirt/gravel roads for signs of erosion and consult Maine DEP’s Camp Road website for tips on reducing stormwater runoff.
“Properly maintain septic systems and reduce or eliminate lawn fertilizer use. Invasive Milfoil was identified in the lake in 2023. Continue efforts to manage and reduce the spread of Milfoil. Keep up the great work!”
The 2023 water quality assessment can be accessed via website: des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/vlap/annual reports.
Milfoil Update.
Variable milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) was first documented in Highland Lake, Andover, New Hampshire, in 2023. The plant was spotted by the HLPA’s volunteers during water sampling for the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program. The plants were in flower for positive identification, and DNA confirmation was also done to be sure of plant identification.
NHDES performed a full survey of the pond in fall 2023 and determined that variable milfoil growth was isolated to the outlet canal of the pond, above the dam. The boat launch is right above the dam, so it is likely (and fortunate) that milfoil stayed in that area and was not yet dragged up and deposited into the main body of the lake, that we know of at this writing. The herbicide treatment date for Highland Lake was June 14, and the proposed treatment area focused on the inner and outer channel.
While the growth was localized to above the dam, extra treatment was added to the whole channel as a precaution to take care of any local expansion that may have occurred before treatment. For more information on the treatment procedure, contact: Solitude Lake Management at 508-865-1000, or email NewHampshire@nullSolitudeLake.com, Attn: Peter Beisler.
DES State Biologist Amy Smagula will be out this summer to survey the whole lake, to make sure there were no plants that sneaked their way into the lake proper. Folks are asked to keep an eye out for anything suspicious anywhere and report it as soon as possible.
Loon Update.
Per resident loon watcher Donna Baker Hartwell, on June 7 she observed the loons around the lake, but there was no evidence of a loon nest yet. There is also a very active eagle nest high in a pine tree on the southeast corner of the island, and they are aggressively hunting for food, which puts any loon eggs at tremendous risk.
Community Support.
As many know, we no longer collect annual dues but welcome donations from the community to offset expenses as needed. We also encourage additional energy and input from new benefactors, as dues-based membership has been in decline for some time. Questions posed via email (hlpanh@nullgmail.com) or our Facebook page will be responded to accordingly. (Facebook: The Highland Lake Protective Association).
Importantly, remember that any activity within the defined watershed boundaries of Highland Lake can ultimately impact water quality, not just the shoreline. As always, the HLPA welcomes all members of the community who are interested in protecting and celebrating the beauty of Highland Lake, particularly those living within its watershed and not just along the shoreline.
What your donation supports:
The HLPA supports the State of NH’s VLAP program to closely follow the quality of our lake water. Samples are collected monthly and voluntarily driven to the DES lab in Concord for testing. This is a fee-based service.
We provide and maintain the Porta-Potty by the boat launch for a fee and have contributed monetary resources to area organizations as appropriate. We support protection of our loons, bald eagles, and fish, and encourage invasive weed monitoring practices. Feel free to donate by mailing your check to our mailing address: PO Box 252, East Andover, NH 03231.
HLPA Schedule of Events, Summer of 2024.
Wednesday, July 3, 7 – 8 PM. Ice Cream Social, E. Andover Fire Station
Wednesday, July 3, 9 PM. Lighting of the flares around the lake.
Thursday, July 4, 4 PM. Boat Parade (judging for best decorated boat!). Gather on the West Shore, to begin procession around lake perimeter
Flares.
Flares may be requested by email (hlpanh@nullgmail.com) and will be delivered upon your request prior to 9 PM on July 3, or may be picked up at Beth Frost’s home on Maple Street or Earle Davis’s on West Shore Drive. They can also be delivered if preferred; just let us know. Flares cost $8 each, or $28 for 4.
Donation Info.
Highland Lake Protective Association, P.O. Box 252, East Andover, NH 03231-0252.
Please contribute what you feel you can to support the HLPA efforts to keep our lake clean:
by sending any donations to our PO Box above or donate at the Ice Cream Social event.
All monies raised from donations and fundraising is used to defray the expense of the lake
monitoring program, ramp porta-potty, PR, educational programs, and other projects agreed to
by the association community.
# Members____ x $XX.00/member = Total Donation of: $__________ Thank you!!
Clean Water Disciplines for all Waterways.
The VLAP Program volunteer for Highland Lake performs monthly lake testing for monitoring the lake quality. From June through August, samples are collected at five points around the lake and delivered that day to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) lab in Concord. The samples are run through a variety of tests indicating how healthy the lake is.
Annual results are always viewable at: www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/vlap/annual_reports.
Maintain your septic system properly. Pump out your septic tank every 3-5 years, or whenever the sludge level exceeds one-third of the tank capacity. Be sure your system is designed to handle the load it receives.
A leach field should be increased in size whenever the frequency (seasonal to year-round) or volume (additional people, washing machines, etc.) of use increases. Check your leach field for soft or wet areas or septic smells.
Our testing has shown that while they have been mostly holding steady, we always must be careful about rising phosphorus levels. High phosphorus levels can cause blooms of cyanobacteria, which can be fatal to pets and livestock if ingested. One of the most common sources of phosphorus is erosion from the shore around the lake.
We’re hoping that everyone will do their part to protect the lake. As a reminder, here’s a list (taken from the NHDES website) of things that you can do to help limit the amount of phosphorous going into the lake, for both shoreline residents and anyone within the watershed boundaries:
Do not bathe, shampoo, or wash boats, pets, or other objects in the lake with soap or phosphorus-containing detergents.
Do not wash automobiles near lakes or streams where the detergent can run into the water.
Keep land clearing to a minimum by maintaining a buffer zone of natural vegetation along the shore to contain bank erosion. Roads and paths leading to the lake should be curved to reduce erosion. Tree cutting must be approved by the NHDES, per recently enacted laws, for a 250-feet margin from the lakeshore.
Do not use fertilizer near the lakeshore (or only non-phosphorus fertilizers).
Do not burn brush or leaves near the shore; the nutrients remain behind to be washed into the lake during the first rain.
Do not dump leaves or grass clippings in or near the lake. They also add nutrients to the water.
Do not feed or encourage geese to come ashore. See additional info on the HLPA Facebook page.