Spofford Lake Association

03/29/2026

Dear Members, Neighbors, and Lake Lovers:

Ice In/Out: As of March 12, ice could be seen over most, if not all, of the Lake. While we all might be hoping for an early Spring, a long rest under an icy blanket benefits Spofford by controlling the temperature of the Lake.

According to W**der Digest “The health of your lake in July is often determined by what happens in January. …Ice cover is actually a vital "blanket" that regulates the health of your lake for the entire year. It isn't just a platform for ice fishing; it is a sophisticated climate regulator.

“If that ice doesn't form correctly—or if it thaws too early—it can throw the entire ecosystem out of balance. Think of ice cover as a protective seal. It prevents the wind from churning up the water and helps manage how much light reaches the plants below. Without a consistent winter freeze, your lake loses its rhythm, which can lead to warmer water in the summer and potentially more issues with algae and water clarity” and cyanobacteria.

“When we see shorter winters or "ice-on" periods that don't last as long as they used to, it creates a ripple effect. The cold water acts as a reset button for the biological processes of the lake. Without that reset, the lake can "overwork" itself, leading to oxygen depletion and stress on the fish populations you enjoy.

"The loss of ice cover impacts the phenology of aquatic life. Many fish species in temperate zones rely on specific thermal cues for spawning and egg development.”

Another benefit is that all the melted ice adds highly oxygenated water to the Lake. Spofford suffers from poorly oxygenated water in a number of areas, and particularly at the deep spot.

What’s the Problem with Salt? Lowering YOUR Phosphorous Impact. The SLA has worked with the Town and State on lowering the amount of road salt. Perhaps more needs to be done, especially after a snowy winter. Do you have any anecdotes or photos? If so, send them to [email protected]. Interesting to see that Keene is experimenting with a liquid road de-icer, magnesium chloride. Click here for the March 9 article in the Keene Sentinel.

While road salt is certainly not good for lakes, neither is salt originating from home water softening systems. Most systems rely on sodium pellets or crystals to reduce the impact of calcium and magnesium in your home water. During the system regeneration process, the sodium is rinsed out into your septic tank, finding its way into the soil and eventually into Spofford Lake.

Does your home have a water softening system? Does the system use salt, e.g., Morton Water Softener Crystals to achieve ‘soft’ water? The SLA and NH LAKES urges you to consider using an alternative product, potassium chloride, to achieve the same result. It’s more expensive but brings benefits to homeowners and certainly to our lake. Here is a bit more on the topic from NH LAKES.

SLA Board Meeting Dates: The 2026 season is upon us. The Board plans to meet seven times, with most meetings being the first Monday of the month. The dates are April 13, May 4, June 1, July 13, August 8, September 7, and October 5. All meetings begin at 7:00pm, are open to the public and posted to our Board Meetings page and the monthly calendar. Zoom details will be provided soon.

Membership Dues and LPF Donations: Without prompting, about a dozen folks have already sent in their 2026 dues and LPF donations. Thank you very much. We look forward to many others doing same soon. To renew online, click here. Please send checks to the SLA, PO Box 177, Spofford NH 03462. Thank you.

And if you enjoy our Gazette content and the work we do to protect Spofford Lake, please join the SLA by using this link. Again, your support is appreciated.

Water Quality Monitoring: Dates have been set for this year’s regular sampling events. Our on-shore and on-water teams will be doing their work on May 26, July 28, August 25, and September 29. Smaller crews will perform turnover tests in April and November.

Community News:

Controlling runoff: At the recent Chesterfield Town Meeting, residents agreed that the Town should purchase a 9.77 acre parcel of land (parallel to Rte 63 and below Pinnacle Springs Rd) from the State for $30,000. The intent of the Town’s purchase is to conserve the tract. It will be a non-building or clearing (i.e., logging) site. This should be helpful in the Town’s efforts to mitigate storm runoff from this area into the Lake.
Improving an Eyesore: The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to acquire the Electrosonics property (corner Church St and Rte 9A) by tax deed. With that, the Chesterfield Revitalization Group got to work writing and submitting a federal EPA grant proposal ($1.5 million) to clean up the site and demolish the deteriorating building. This was submitted in late January.
Assuming acceptance, (expected by late spring/early Summer) actual clean up and demolition of the site, along with other paperwork are expected to take another year. At the same time, the CRG will brainstorm possible future uses of the property, including selling it or creating a nonprofit and using donated funds to build a green space. For more info, check out the Town website.

That’s all for now,

The Spofford Lake Association

01/31/2026

Dear members, neighbors, and Lake Lovers:

We hope that 2026 finds you and your family well. Here are a few items to consider during this winter season.

Reduce YOUR Impact this Winter. Be lake friendly!

shovel & scrape—to minimize the need for salt, don’t let snow build
apply sand and ashes if needed for traction—these materials can be swept up and reused later
apply ice melting products sparingly. A little goes a long way and you do not need to feel the CRUNCH for it to be working. Most products contain chloride, which is:
toxic to aquatic life,
damaging to plants,
corrosive to vehicles, and
harmful to pets.
use chloride free alternatives, such as Branch Creek Entry Ice Melt as chloride is not good for landscaping plants, grass and finds its way into streams, the watershed, and the lake. Spofford has some areas of marginally high chloride levels and we don’t want them to worsen.
And be aware, “pet safe” does not mean the product is lake friendly.

use a snowplow service? Support those who are certified by the State in the Green SnowPro program. Scroll down for the section entitled “Looking for a Certified Commercial Applicator” for listings in West Chesterfield and Walpole.
Ice Shards:
Ice In: This winter has been a cold one with ice in being called on December 29, earlier than prior years. 2025 saw ice in on January 12 and ice out on April 3. As always, ice in and out are reported to the State as data points to create an overall picture of the Lake. Let’s hope that ice out too arrives later and along more traditional timelines, perhaps mid-April.


Ice and Lake Health: Ice is very important to a lake’s health. According to the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, “Ice acts as an insulator, reflecting sunlight so water at the bottom stays dark and cold. As lakes warm, we can expect more aquatic plants growing for longer periods of time. A longer growing season? That means more algae. And warmer water favors more invasive plants, like milfoil as well as cyanobacteria …” For the complete article, click here.
Ice Safety: While Spofford is well frozen now, eventually it will thaw. Use this handy diagram to determine when it’s safe to play on the ice and when it is not. FYI, our Home page will display this diagram until ice out is called.

Rehabilitating Partridge Lake: As the SLA continues to refine its plan for managing and/or reversing the low dissolved oxygen in our lake, it is worth understanding the experiences of other lakes as they too attempt to deal with declining water quality, low dissolved oxygen, and cyanobacteria blooms. Case in point, Partridge Lake, 101-acres within an 882-acre watershed near Littleton. For comparison Spofford Lake is over 700 acres and sits within a watershed of 2,500+ acres. NH DES has produced a short article on the steps taken and decades long activity that led up to an alum treatment at Partridge Lake in 2025. Total cost so far, $1 million dollars. And the work may not be complete.

As lakes compete for scare resources, e.g., limited Federal, State, and local funds and grants and few consulting firms with solid experience in the field, it is even more important for communities and homeowners to do what is within their power to slow the build-up of phosphorous. According to DES, while lake associations and townships can take actions to protect the watershed, so too can individual homeowners. Here are a few actions YOU can take:

Work hard to protect natural resources and limit negative impacts and degradation – be a watershed watch dog and take care of your own piece of the watershed. (Everyone is in a watershed, no matter how far you think you are from the water.)
Keep mixed vegetative buffers on the shore – ground covers, shrubs/bushes and trees work together to stabilize, take up nutrients, and shade and protect our shorelines and our aquatic resources.
Follow low impact practices for snow and ice removal, above.
Be LakeSmart. We’ll do a deeper dive into NH LAKES LakeSmart program in an upcoming edition of the Lake Lover Gazette.
Lakes & Legislation: Learn about the likely legislative issues to be discussed in 2026 by the NH legislature. Click here for the YouTube recoding of the webinar.

To receive updates on proposed legislation, sign up for NH LAKES Advocacy Alerts.

Night Sky: As many folks are not year-round residents of Spofford, we thought you would enjoy some beautiful local views of the aurora borealis. Stunning!



Stay warm,

The Spofford Lake Association

12/17/2025

Dear Members, Neighbors, and Lake Lovers:

As we close out 2025, our volunteer team leaders offer their reflections on the great work accomplished by their respective teams:

Bruce Soltys, Grants

2025 was a certainly a mixed year for our Grant efforts with some promising results and some unexpected pauses. While we were excited to see the opening of the new boat launch and surrounding areas, which used some residual funding from our Phase II 319 grant, the attempted cost-cutting measures from our nation’s capital, coupled with the federal shutdown, led to a lengthy pause of federal grant submission applications that we have relied on in the past.

With the help of the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES), we have recently gotten access to a mix of other state, non-profit, and private resources to consider as new non-federal grant sources. We will be working diligently to investigate these resources and considering eligibility to see if our projects, such as Pinnacle Springs runoff, will fit and compete for funding.

W**d Watch, Val Starbuck

The W**d Watch Team was on the prowl, again in 2025, for invasive flora and fauna that could cause havoc to our beautiful Lake Spofford. Twice per season, the volunteers, and I repeat, volunteers, head out to assigned areas along the shoreline and island to search for invasive species. If found, NH DES can assist in early eradication methods.

I am happy to report that no invasive weeds were found along the shoreline, including a secondary late season search of the most high-risk shoreline on either side of the ramp.

In no particular order, the W**d Watchers for 2025 were:

Ken Holvick, Peter Holton, Mike Gold, Carlo Acorsi, Rachel Grumm, Dana McGinn, Tommy & Michele Conran, Carey Compton, Joe Ragusa, Marcie MacKenzie, Chris Giles, Chris Oot, Brandon Oakes, Lauren Turner, Peg Bailey, Pam & Ken Walton, Wendy & Steve Schwartz, Bob & Mike Willey, Casey & Steve Downes, Charlie Paquette, and Jon Starbuck.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to these folks. All those who love and cherish Lake Spofford can be thankful for their diligence. We are one of the few lakes in NH and surrounding states that is still “exotic free” some 20+ years after the program began. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season.

Lake Hosts, Frank Turner

The Lake Hosts are the first line of defense against invasives and work closely with the W**d Watch team. Many thanks to our crew of 6 Lake Hosts. Ever vigilant, they show up, rain or shine, and before the season officially begins to cover the early spring bass tournaments, to defend Spofford Lake from invasive plants and animals that abound in nearby waterbodies. This year, we recorded four “saves” (fanwort and milfoil) by correctly identifying and capturing hitchhikers, mostly attached to boat trailers, from entering the Lake.

Harry Compton, Water Quality Monitoring (WQM)

2025 was my first year as team lead. I very much appreciate the organization and guidance provided by my predecessor, Chris Oot. This year's successful lake and effluent/influent monitoring were accomplished on time and on budget with truly dedicated and committed folks. While SLA couldn't collect samples at every location at every designated sampling date, it was not due to lack of trying but rather insufficient water from drought. The volunteers are impressively knowledgeable and not reluctant to learn, execute and deliver whatever the mission needed. In particular, I would like to tip my hat to James Corliss, Art Huggins, Susan Donahue, Peter Holton, and on-shore leads Pam Walton and Kelli Rooney.

Art Huggins, WQM On-water

As our year comes to an end, I am extremely grateful for the support that I received. The help of James Corliss, Harry, and Chris makes collecting on-water samples a breeze. As we learn more about the history behind these samples, we can begin to understand how the lake has evolved. I hope we can continue to learn more and see how we can improve the quality of the water. Best wishes for a great new year.

Art Huggins, Pierce Island

A spring cleanup was conducted, including a sprucing up of trails. We also repositioned the Pierce Island sign from its previous home at the boat ramp. Thanks to Larry Smith, Chris Sheehan, Rob Huggins and my grandsons for all their hard work.

Val Starbuck, Loons

For everyone wintering on the lake, this is a reminder to be on the lookout for any loons that might get iced in. In late 2021, there was such a rescue. Loons sometimes get caught off guard with a deep freeze. They really need a lot (up to 0.25 miles) of open water to take flight. If you see a loon in peril, perhaps confined to a small section of water, take photos and call me at 603-762-3447 or reach out to the Loon Preservation Committee at 603-476-5666 so action can be taken.

The Spofford Lake Association is very proud of our accomplishments in 2025, among them the replacement and thus improvement of the boat ramp and surrounding area and the phosphorous sediment sampling (PSS). Regarding the boat ramp, we again wish to thank the donor who kicked off the project, and the Town for allocating funds and other resources for its full completion. Working together, the Town, the Boat Ramp Committee, and the SLA have created an asset for the Town, lake residents, and visitors that should last another 30 years. Thank you all.

As a result of this summer’s PSS, we are beginning to understand what any remediation might involve, including State permit requirements, e.g., more comprehensive cyanobacteria tracking. More work and learning will need to be accomplished and we expect FB Environmental to continue to guide us as we look to the future.

2025 has seen a decline in membership dues over 2024. While economic times may be uncertain, we are certain that Spofford Lake will continue to require our care and tending into 2026 and beyond.

With that in mind, I invite you to take the last few days of the year to send in your 2025 member dues. We thank all of you who have supported us during the year and have allowed us to undertake important projects and ongoing programs to protect our wonderful lake. Dues payments by check should be sent to the SLA, PO Box 177, Spofford, NH 03462 or use your online account by clicking here. If you have never been a member of the SLA, we invite you to join us now. Thanks so much.

I could not close out our final report without mentioning the passing of one our Lake Hosts. It is with great sorrow that the SLA acknowledges the passing of Morgon Turner. Morgon, grandson of Lake Host lead, Frank Turner, served as a Lake Host for two summers. We extend our deepest condolences to his family.

We wish you all peace this holiday season and a happy and healthy 2026.

Sincerely,

On behalf of the SLA Board of Directors

Kelli Rooney, President

11/21/2025

Dear Members, Neighbors, and Lake Lovers:

Did you miss the discussion on Spofford's water quality on Wednesday, November 19? Were you one of the dozens of folks who logged in and want to watch and listen again?

We use our YouTube channel to house all video content. Click here for the November 19, 2025 "Sediment Analysis" event.

Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.

The Spofford Lake Association

11/19/2025

Dear Members, Neighbors, and Lake Lovers:

We urge you to join us tomorrow, November 19 at 6:00pm, to hear Laura Diemer, Senior Project Manager, Lakes Services Lead, & Director of Operations, FB Environmental (FBE) explain the results our phosphorous core sediment tests. Laura will also outline future remedial actions, their timelines, and their costs.

Concerned about the quality of the audio for meeting, we have changed the session to a ZOOM ONLY format. We will NOT assemble at Town Hall. Log into the session using the coordinates below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82642143669?pwd=PIw106qs0nLXSFg0WLn1uxvYEW95rN.1

Meeting ID: 826 4214 3669, Passcode: 03462

To review FBE's report, which forms the basis of the presentation and discussion, click here. To ask questions during the session, please use the "raise your hand" function. Or send your questions in advance to [email protected].

We hope to see you, virtually, tomorrow evening for this important discussion.

Sincerely,

The Spofford Lake Association

11/17/2025

Dear Members, Neighbors, and Lake Lovers:

Water Quality Town Meeting: On Wednesday, November 19, 6:00pm, at Town Hall, 518 Route 63, Chesterfield, we will gather to learn about the state of Spofford Lake’s water quality and what potential actions may be needed to improve and protect it. To join remotely, see the Zoom details below.

Laura Diemer, Senior Project Manager, Lakes Services Lead, & Director of Operations, FB Environmental (FBE) will discuss the results of the August phosphorous core sampling and outline future remedial actions, their timelines and costs.

In the August 24 Lake Lover Gazette and Core Sampling 2.0 video, we reported on our recent efforts to better understand the levels of phosphorous across the Lake, and the extent to which Spofford is likely approaching a state of widespread phosphorous internal loading.

A field team from FBE conducted (on August 12) phosphorous core sediment samplings at 12 locations (see the map) along major flow lines and at varying depths within the Lake. The samples sought to identify the different fractions of phosphorous, allowing for an estimate of the total mass of phosphorus stored in the lakebed and, importantly, the portion of phosphorus that could be released into the water column when deep waters lose oxygen. Data coming from the continuous monitoring buoy, located over the deep spot, tells us that Spofford suffers prolonged periods of low dissolved oxygen (DO) at 14 and 16 meters.

When bottom waters go anoxic (oxygen-free), the natural balance is lost, sediments release bound phosphorus, a condition called “internal loading,” which in turn fuels excessive toxic algae (e.g., cyanobacteria) and plant growth. Both are highly detrimental to lakes and their recreational users. Fish and other water life are also negatively impacted.

Learn what can be done to protect our cherished Spofford Lake. We hope to see you on Wednesday, in November 19 at Town Hall @ 6:00pm. Or participate remotely by using these Zoom coordinates:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82642143669?pwd=PIw106qs0nLXSFg0WLn1uxvYEW95rN.1

Meeting ID: 826 4214 3669, Passcode: 03462

Second Milfoil Save: Our Lake Host team snagged their second invasive hitchhiker in 2025. The most recent, also milfoil, was found in early October, again on a trailer, but his time the trailer was hauling a kayak.

A correction, in September we reported that the Hosts had found milfoil on a boat trailer. In fact, the trailer was carrying two invasives species, milfoil and fanwort. Way to go Lake Hosts.

Witches Ply the Waters: In the first-ever ‘Witches Kayaking’ eight hearty women took to the waters on October 30 in their season’s finest garb. For more photos of the adventure, click here.



Closing Out the Season:

The new dock has been carefully put to rest for the season and will be re-installed in the spring.
Fall turnover water sampling is typically one of the last tasks of the season. Turnover occurs when the cool oxygen-rich top waters of a lake sink to the bottom forcing the oxygen depleted waters to the top for re-oxygenation. Weather permitting, turnover testing is planned for Thursday, November 20.
Final sweep for invasives is to be completed this month, weather permitting.
Holiday Swag: It is time to order your Spofford Lake gear. There are plenty of gift ideas on our website, e.g., The North Face-branded vests and fleece jackets. We also have a Vineyard Vines ¼ zip pullover shirt or canvas tote. Or perhaps a warm and cozy hoodie or a travel mug. The holidays are coming fast so order now.



Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your time together with family and friends. 🍁 🦃

The Spofford Lake Association

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

11/06/2025

Dear Members, Neighbors, and Lake Lovers:

The August phosphorous core sampling results have arrived. Join us on Wednesday, November 19 at Town Hall (518 Route 63, Chesterfield, NH) to learn about the state of Spofford Lake’s water quality and what potential actions may be needed to improve and protect it.

Laura Diemer, Senior Project Manager, Lakes Services Lead, & Director of Operations, FB Environmental (FBE) will discuss the results and outline future remedial actions, their timelines and costs.

In the August 24 Lake Lover Gazette and Core Sampling 2.0 video, we reported on our recent efforts to better understand the levels of phosphorous across the Lake, and the extent to which Spofford is likely approaching a state of widespread phosphorous internal loading.

A field team from FBE conducted (on August 12) phosphorous core sediment samplings at 12 locations (see the map) along major flow lines and at varying depths within the Lake. The samples sought to identify the different fractions of phosphorous, allowing for an estimate of the total mass of phosphorus stored in the lakebed and, importantly, the portion of phosphorus that could be released into the water column when deep waters lose oxygen. We already know from data coming from the continuous monitoring buoy, located over the deep spot, that Spofford suffers prolonged periods of low dissolved oxygen (DO) at 14 and 16 meters.

When bottom waters go anoxic (oxygen-free), the natural balance is lost, sediments release bound phosphorus, a condition called “internal loading,” which in turn fuels excessive toxic algae (e.g., cyanobacteria) and plant growth. Both are highly detrimental to a lake and its recreational users. Fish and other water life are also negatively impacted.

Join us to learn what can be done to protect our cherished Spofford Lake. We hope to see you on Wednesday, in November 19 at Town Hall @ 6:00pm. Or log into Zoom to participate remotely at:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82642143669?pwd=PIw106qs0nLXSFg0WLn1uxvYEW95rN.1

Meeting ID: 826 4214 3669

Passcode: 03462

Sincerely,

The Spofford Lake Association

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

09/22/2025

Dear Members, Neighbors, and Lake Lovers:

While the summer season has come to a close, and cooler temps prevail, there is plenty going on around the Lake. Here are the highlights:

Lake Hosts to the Rescue, Another Save: Our ever-diligent Lake Host team identified a suspicious specimen in August. It was entangled around the brake line of an incoming boat trailer and was later confirmed as milfoil.

The boat itself was clean. The boater told the Lake Host inspector that ‘not a blade of grass would be found.’ (Thank you boater for having done a pre-inspection. Many do not.) The Host asked to do another inspection. The boater agreed. Milfoil was found on the trailer under the boat, which had last been in Lake Lunenburg, MA. Following procedure, the specimen was submitted to NH LAKES for confirmation.

This is the second ‘save’ in 2 years, with third and fourth specimens now at the lab awaiting analysis.

The Lake Hosts are often pulling grasses off arriving trailer frames. In dry conditions with low water, trailers become even more likely to have hitchhikers, whether milfoil or not. Boaters, please pay as much or more attention to your trailers as you do to your boats. Clean both well…all the nooks and crannies, including the boat lines.

Lake Hosts are also checking for shellfish such as snails and clams and inspecting fishing gear for signs of spiney water flees (see the August 24 Gazette) that attach themselves to gear, especially fishing and boat lines.

Lake Lovers make a trip to the boat ramp to shake the hand of a Lake Host. They are on duty from 6 am to 6 pm until mid-October. Our Lake is all the healthier, and milfoil-free, because of their superb work.

THANK YOU, Lake Hosts.


Lake Water Level: Restrict Water Use and Watch Out for Rocks. Mother Nature seems determined not to provide us with much measurable rain. How about a group rain dance? 💧💃🏻 That said, the Town continues to monitor the dam, recently flushing it to reduce the ‘beaver work’ (They continue to leave debris, sometimes lots.) and hopefully help to decrease odor in the area.

The Lake level, now 7 inches below summer level, is measured every 7-10 days and posted to our Lake Water Level page. According to NH DES, Chesire County is in a moderate drought condition. Do your part to lessen the impact by:

restricting all outdoor water use
take steps now to reduce indoor water use too.
More information is available on NHDES Drought webpage.

The low water level is also makes navigating the Lake a bit tricky. Pay attention to markers indicating rock outcroppings. What used to be well submerged may now be just below the surface and present a hazard. Boats departing for the season from the ramp, please use extra caution.

Board Meeting Rescheduled: Be aware that the Board of Directors meeting originally set for October 13 has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 28 at Camp Spofford. The Zoom coordinates can be found on our Board Meetings page.

Cyanobacteria: Just a reminder, if you suspect a cyanaobacteria bloom, please contact both the SLA and the State. Visit our cyanobacteria page for email contacts.

Why contact the SLA? The SLA has small team well versed in cyanobacteria and particularly the type most common to our lake, i.e., benthic mats. Working with the homeowner, we can respond quickly to send the sample for analysis. Depending on our assessment, in addition to sending it to the State, we might also send (and have sent) samples to a lab in Florida specializing in cyanobacteria. This yields much quicker results than we can get from the over-burdened State lab.

The Brattleboro Reformer recently posted a short article outlining the important and positive beginnings of cyanobacteria and the current negative impacts. It’s a quick and interesting read.

Want to learn more about NH’s fight against cyanobacteria? NH LAKES will host Amy Smagula of NH DES on October 15 at 7:00 pm. To register for this free online meeting, go to NH LAKES.

No Fish in the Lake?: We’ve heard it said that the number of fish in Spofford is declining. Indeed, that is true, especially for the species that like abundant oxygen and cooler water. Trout are less plentiful, and the State stocks 50% fewer each Spring. But some seemingly pre-historic monsters still make Spofford home. This one was caught during the Keene High School JV Bass Tournament on September 7.


Annual Meeting: Spofford Yacht Club has allowed the SLA to host its annual meeting on its premises for many years. As a thank you, the SLA has gifted the SYC a framed map of the Lake from 1898. Thank you SYC and enjoy.

Our In Box: We’ve recently had an email from a young visitor to Spofford Lake, who found some useful information on our website for her summer school project. As a thank you, she passed along an article on lake friendly living tips that she thought our members and readers might find useful. Thank you, Harley.

Signs of autumn are starting to show. Enjoy, 🍁

The Spofford Lake Association

09/09/2025

Too much phosphorous in Spofford Lake is not healthy. The Spofford Lake Association recently did some testing. See our video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrXF03w76yM More information can be found at spoffordlakeassociation.org.

Spofford Lake Association, association, New Hampshire, Our Challenge, Chesterfield, SLA, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit, non-profit, charity, NH

09/01/2025

Happy Labor Day from the SLA!! So exciting to see so much Loon activity. These photos were shared from this evening.

08/25/2025

Dear Members, Neighbors, and Lake Lovers: Hope you’re having a wonderful summer enjoying the Lake. We’ve spent this month “digging deep” on Spofford! Here’s the latest:

Core Sediment Sampling Complete: On Tuesday, August 12, a field team from FB Environmental (Laura Diemer and Amelia Wallis) conducted core sediment sampling at 12 locations across Spofford Lake, including the deep spot. Armed with a 25+ pound gravity corer — think of it as a heavy tube that plunges into the lakebed to collect layers of sediment — the team gathered samples along major flow lines and at varying depths within Spofford Lake.

These samples were sent to the highly regarded University of Wisconsin Stout Lab for analysis of the different fractions of phosphorous, allowing for an estimate of the total mass of phosphorus stored in the lakebed and, importantly, the portion of phosphorus that could be released into the water column when deep waters lose oxygen, a condition which occurs each summer in Spofford.

As you may recall from our report on August 1, (check the Archive) the data coming from the continuous monitoring buoy located over the deep spot, shows prolonged periods of low dissolved oxygen (DO) at 14 and 16 meters. When bottom waters go anoxic (oxygen-free), sediments release phosphorus, a condition called “internal loading,” which can fuel excessive toxic algae and plant growth. The August 12 samples will assist in determining the scope of any remedial action.

What’s Next? Test results are expected at the end of October. The SLA will hold a public meeting, likely in early November, at the Town Hall and via Zoom, to explain the results and our future steps.

Many thanks to Art Huggins and James Corliss for providing assistance in the field to enable this important work.

By the way, we are working on a video of the core sediment sampling. We will share it shortly in a special edition of the Gazette.







Water Quality Monitoring Testing: The WQMP On-Shore and Deep Spot Teams will be back at it on the morning of Tuesday, August 26, gathering our third set of samples for this season at 28 locations in and around the watershed. The final on-shore testing date this year is September 30. All the results and trends from this year will also be shared at the November public meeting,

Membership Dues are Due: Thank you to all who have already made their donations this year! It truly helps our planning to receive them as early as possible.

Just to keep it fun for those receiving and logging membership dues, here’s what one member sent us. (This is not the first time.) Thank you. It brings us a chuckle every time. 🤣

Please follow the jokester’s lead and renew your SLA membership now. Members with online accounts can log in here. If you are not a member, we would be delighted if you join to help us help Spofford Lake. Please use this link to set up an account. Or if you’d to prefer to pay by check, our mailing address is The Spofford lake Association, PO Box 177, Spofford NH 03462. Members and newbies alike, thanks for your continuing support.



Wear Spofford Lake Proud—Get your SLA Gear: It’s still summer. But soon the temps will dip and we’ll all be looking for long sleeves, sweats, and maybe a vest. Now is the time to place your order for SLA branded fall and winter gear. It takes 2-3 weeks to fulfill an order. Everything beyond the cost of the merchandise goes directly to the SLA, so this is another great way to donate, while showing off your Spofford Lake style.




New Invasive Species, Spiny Water Flea: This new invasive has already been found in Lakes Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam. While small, it poses harm in many ways:

Impacts fish population as the fleas are dangerous for young fish to eat and they compete for native foods,
Increased susceptibility to cyanobacteria and algae blooms, and,
Decline in recreation.
What Can Be Done? According to NH LAKES, there is no known control method ONCE the spiny flea has been introduced into a waterbody. Prevention is the KEY.

Here are the steps you can take to assure Spofford remains clear of the spiny water flea.

Know what to look for--smaller than a fingernail, long spiny tail, large black eyespot, and clumping together on a line or rope
Clean your craft with high pressure (2500psi) and hot (water (140 degrees F) in an area where water won’t run into the Lake.
Soak your gear in hot water. That includes fishing lines, lures, and nets. Boat lines too!.
Dry everything.
Report it. Drop a pin in Google maps, email your pin and photos to [email protected]. For more information, visit NH LAKES.

319 Runoff Grants: Spofford Lake has benefitted greatly from being awarded two Section 319 grants. These grants have addressed serious stormwater runoff problems at e.g., B&K Club, Family Rec Club, Lake Rd, and Linfield Lane.

Section 319 grants are made possible by provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act and are administered by each state. Steve Landry, the NH DES director administering program advises that ‘2026 requests for pre-proposals for Section 319 Watershed Assistance Grants …. are being delayed.’ This delay will remain in effect until NHDES has more certainty in the grant awards that will be provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Earlier this year the engineering and design study of stormwater runoff from the Pinnacle Springs Road area was completed. It was envisaged that remediation work would be accomplished through 319 grants.

The SLA will continue to identify all opportunities for improving the health of the lake, but no remedial action is currently planned until there is more certainty around 319 grant program.

We trust you are enjoying the summer,

Kind regards,

The Spofford Lake Association