NH LAKES

10/15/2026

💙 Protecting New Hampshire’s lakes takes all of us! Through our LakeSmart Program, we’re proud to work alongside partners like the Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance and Stephens Landscaping to help property owners adopt lake-friendly practices that protect water quality.

Curious how you can make a difference on your own property? Check out their post and learn how lake-friendly landscaping can help keep our lakes clean and healthy for generations to come! 🌿💧

10/08/2026

Taking your boat out after the holiday weekend? Whether you're moving to another lake or getting ready to put your boat away for the season, don't forget to Clean, Drain, Dry!

Invasive plants and animals can spread from lake to lake on boats, trailers, and fishing gear. Once established, they can disrupt native ecosystems, interfere with recreation, and be costly and difficult to manage.

Before you leave the water:

🧹 Clean off plants, mud, and debris from your boat, trailer, and gear.
💧 Drain all water from your boat, motor, live wells, and equipment.
☀️ Dry everything completely before heading to another lake—or storing it for the season.

Take one last look before you leave the launch. You might spot an invasive plant or animal hitching a ride.

🔎 See something suspicious? If you find something growing in the water or attached to your boat that you suspect could be an invasive species, take a photo and report it to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Your report can help track and respond to new discoveries of invasive species.

👉 Report a suspected invasive species to NHDES: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/852ba2d22c174a80be96c55c1e7eb452

Help protect New Hampshire's lakes—Clean, Drain, Dry, every lake, every time.

10/06/2026

Closing up camp for the season? Give your property a lake-friendly fall checkup.

A few simple fixes can help protect your lake through winter and spring—and make next year’s projects easier to plan.

🍁 Bare, compacted areas from foot traffic? Create designated walking paths and use plants or other landscaping to guide people where you want them to walk.

🌱 Rainwater washing away soil? Redirect runoff into a rain garden, infiltration area, or wooded area where it can soak into the ground instead of flowing toward the lake.

🚽 Have you checked your leach field lately? Look for soggy areas, unusual odors, or unusually lush vegetation over your system, and schedule a septic inspection if it’s been more than three years.

❄️ Not sure where winter snow will go? Choose a snow-storage area away from your septic system and lake and avoid pushing snow into areas where it can carry salt and other pollutants toward the water.

🧊 Use a dock de-icer? Keep the open-water area as small as possible and run the de-icer only when needed.

You don’t have to do it all this fall. Take a walk, notice what needs attention, and make a plan for spring.

Get more lake-friendly fall tips: https://nhlakes.org/closing-up-camp/

10/03/2026

It's a beautiful autumn day at the lake! 🍁☀️🛥️

10/02/2026

We were excited to be invited to join NHPR’s Something Wild to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing New Hampshire’s lakes: tiny invasive species with big impacts!

Tune in to hear about the threats these invaders pose to our lakes and what NH LAKES and others are doing to help prevent their spread.

Whether you're boating, fishing, or enjoying the shoreline, you can be part of the solution!

NH lakes are one of the state’s greatest natural resources, but they face threats from invasive plants and animals.

09/29/2026

🍂 Fall lake drawdowns are underway!

Each fall, some New Hampshire lakes are lowered to help reduce winter ice damage to shorelines and spring flooding.

NHDES has announced the 2026 fall drawdown schedule for lakes across the state. Check the schedule and learn more about what to expect this fall.

2025 drawdown schedule will take drought conditions into account.

09/28/2026

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) announced today that the annual fall drawdown of the lakes and ponds controlled by dams owned by NHDES will be initiated according to the schedule detailed on the NHDES website.

2025 drawdown schedule will take drought conditions into account.

09/25/2026

💙 Bon voyage, Sam! 💙

We’re saying a fond farewell to our Community Engagement Coordinator, Sam Parkman, as she heads on to her next adventure.

Sam has been an important part of the NH LAKES team, supporting our Community Cyanobacteria Mitigation Grant Program and contributing to our advocacy and conservation work. She also played an important role in our LakeSmart Program, completing many homeowner visits and helping people put lake-friendly practices into action around their properties. 🏡🌊

"I have been incredibly lucky to have had the experience working with the NH LAKES team the past couple of years. This team and this position have helped me to grow not only in the conservation field, but also in my confidence. NH LAKES has given me the opportunity to see firsthand and be a part of the impact that meaningful environmental work can have. There are so many laughs, lessons, and friendships that I will take away from my time here. I'm so grateful to everyone who made it so special." Sam

We’re grateful for all Sam has contributed to NH LAKES and our lake-loving community. Her enthusiasm, hard work, and commitment to healthy lakes will be missed!

Thank you, Sam, and best wishes for your next adventure!

09/22/2026

🍂 Celebrate Stormwater Awareness Week with plants that are beautiful AND lake-friendly! 🌿💧

So, what exactly is stormwater? It’s rain or melting snow that flows over roofs, driveways, roads, lawns, and other surfaces. As it moves, it can pick up pollutants like nutrients, sediment, and other contaminants and carry them toward our lakes.

That’s where plants can help!

🌱 More plants = more places for stormwater to soak in. Native plants and their roots help slow down and absorb runoff, giving water a chance to filter through the soil—and helping capture pollutants before they reach the lake.

🌿 More roots = less erosion. Plants help hold soil in place, reducing erosion and keeping sediment from washing into the lake.

🍁 And native plants can be beautiful, too! Fall is a great time to think about adding native plants that bring gorgeous color, texture, and wildlife habitat to your yard.

Check out these examples of service berry, highbush blueberry, and sumac!

🌱 Looking for the right native plants for your property? The Native Plant Trust Plant Finder is a great resource!

With the Plant Finder, you can:

🍂 Search for specific features, such as fall foliage, flowers, or other characteristics you’d like in your landscape.
🌿 Find plants suited to your growing conditions and landscape needs.
🦋 Discover native plants that can provide valuable habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.
🛒 Take your list to your local plant shop or nursery to see what’s available. The Plant Finder doesn’t tell you where to buy the plants, so your local nursery is a great next stop!
Plant for beauty. Plant for wildlife. Plant for healthier lakes. 💙🌱

👉 Explore the Native Plant Trust Plant Finder: https://plantfinder.nativeplanttrust.org/

09/21/2026

The NH LAKES team recently enjoyed an end-of-season employee appreciation day on the lake with a Squam Lake Boat Cruise hosted by our partners at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.

It was a wonderful opportunity to step away from our desks, spend time together, and hear more about the important work happening across the Squam watershed to protect lakes, lands, wildlife, and communities.

We’re grateful for the partnerships that make lake protection possible—and for the chance to learn from and celebrate the people working every day to keep New Hampshire’s lakes healthy. 🌿💧