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You may remember from our last issue the article entitled Mesotrophic? We were waiting for the
results of study on Beaver Lake water quality. The association received an email earlier this
month from Jody Connor informing us that when the results come out, Beaver Lake will be classified
as Mesotrophic. This is tremendous news. In a time when many lakes in New Hampshire are declining
in quality, Beaver Lake is actually rising. Not only are we not dead--we are thriving. Our upper
water level phosphorus number for May was 6 ug/L. The median for New Hampshire lakes is 11 ug/L. Our
Secchi disk reading, which measures clarity, was 3.8 meters (12 1/2ft). The mean for NH lakes is 3.7
meters.
This means that the $10,000.00 investment you made in your property 10 years ago is paying off many times over-whether you plan to sell your property at a greatly increased price or if you plan to stay and enjoy the rewards of a cleaner lake. It also means that lake residents have been listening to our message of responsible lakefront property management. Everytime you cut back on the amount of fertilizer you use or get a permit for waterfront renovations or don't dump sand in the water, you are contributing to the revitalization of your own lake. We should all be very proud of ourselves. We should also thank the people who started all of this fifteen years ago: Martha Warren and Pat Tompkins who were members of the original 208 Water Quality Study Committee in 1985, and Jack Warren, Pat Steele and Scott Gerrish who fought the sometimes unpopular battle for town sewerage around the lake. Also, Bob and Carol Madden, who have tirelessly promoted the lake even through bad times. Obviously these lake patrons were correct in their vision. Jody's congratulatory e-mail also included the admonition - NOW KEEP IT CLEAN! The Beaver Lake Improvement Association is committed to continuing this mission. We will continue to participate in the NH Volunteer Lake Assessment Program, work closely with state and local agencies, collaborate with the NH Lakes Association on statewide lake issues and provide educational materials to our members on a grassroots level. Anyone interested in more information on Beaver Lake Water Quality can contact me at: robert_tompkins@uml.edu back to top 
A recent article in the Derry News reported that the new Personal Water Craft ban on Beaver Lake was
being appealed by a lake resident. The ban was first appealed to the Department of Safety who, after
a review of the facts of the hearing, upheld the ban. It is now being appealed to the NH Supreme
Court.
There appears to be some sentiment around the lake that the ban is not in effect while the appeal is being heard. This is absolutely untrue. The skicraft ban is in effect and is being enforced by the Marine Patrol, according to David Barrett, Director, Department of Safety Services. His advice is to use common sense and follow the laws as they have been administered. For more information on this issue or to report any unsafe boating situation, please call NH Marine Patrol at 293-2037. back to top 
Safe Passage Boats (or PWC's for 3 or more persons) must stay at least 150 feet from other boats, swimmers, floats, marked swimming areas and the shore when traveling above headway speed. When closer than 150 feet a boat must slow to "no wake" or "headway" speed. Maximum headway speed is 6 miles per hour. Remember you are responsible for any damage caused by your wake. Buoys Buoys provide guidance to boaters, indicating shallow or hazardous areas. White buoys with black tops direct boats to the east or north. Red tops direct the operator to the west or south. An all black buoy paired with an all red buoy indicates a channel. Please note: storms can move buoys. Use of navigational charts is always advised. Right-of-Way When two boats approach each other head-on, both should move to the right. When boats are approaching at an angle, the boat on the right (starboard) has the right-of-way. Exception: non-power boats always have the right-of-way, power boats should yield. For more complete information, refer to the New Hampshire Boater's Guide, A Digest of Boating Laws, published by the NH Department of Safety Services, Marine Patrol, 31 Dock Road, Gilford, NH 03246 or call (603) 293-2037. What YOU can do to help Beaver Lake! back to top 
What is happening to our lakes? Lake users in New Hampshire may soon see a decline in the welcoming pink and yellow blossoms of native water lilies and the bright purple stalks of pickerel weed blooms. Even other organisms, such as fish, may be stunted in their growth. So what is happening to our lakes? Non-native aquatic plants are proliferating. These nuisance plants enter our lakes and begin taking over. Most of these non-native species grow faster than our native vegetation, choking it out. Some even grow so thick that boating, swimming, and fishing become more of a struggle than an enjoyment. Non-native plants such as Milfoil and Fanwort are slowly taking over a number of lakes in New Hampshire. An Ounce of Prevention... The key to eliminating the problems of nuisance species is to prevent their spread. Once in a lake, they are difficult, if not impossible, to get rid of. 
Attention Kayakers: We need you! If you are interested in becoming a weed watcher, please contact Diana Tompkins at 603.437.5580. back to top 
Recently the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services upgraded the classification of
Beaver Lake from eutrophic to mesotrophic. This classification change confirms the improved water
quality and clarity that many of you have noticed over the past several years.
This improvement resulted from years of effort by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Beaver Lake Improvement Association, countless volunteers, and most importantly property owners. Everyone involved has contributed by limiting non-point source pollution, increasing awareness of watershed issues, and paying for the installation of sewer service around Beaver Lake. These accomplishments have been hard earned and resulted from much time and money being invested by all. With this change in classification comes a new level of concern and urgency for awareness. Gone is the heightened attention and funding that Beaver Lake has enjoyed over the past decade while new lake killers like milfoil have arrived. The bottom line is that the future of Beaver Lake rests on the shoulders of waterfront and watershed property owners more than ever. We are on our own. Your actions will determine if the improvements seen in our lake continue or are squandered. Whether you fertilize your lawn, dump sand on your beach, or defoliate your shoreline will have a significant impact on your lake in the coming years. The most concerning threat comes in the form or the exotic weed milfoil which has infested many nearby lakes and could easily render Beaver Lake recreationally useless. It is up to us to keep milfoil out of Beaver Lake. If you feel that you have something to contribute to the continued efforts to keep Beaver Lake on the road to improvement, get involved in BLIA. The upcoming annual meeting is the perfect opportunity to carve out your role. If you would like to know how to become a more responsible waterfront property owner, please call me at 432-3375 for more information on the specific issues you face. It will be a lot of hard work, but together we can continue to improve our lake. Bill Caselden President back to top ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of the Beaver Lake Improvement Association will be held Saturday, August 5 at 10:00 on the lake at 87 Chester Rd. Whether a long time lake resident, or a recent arrival, this meeting is a great chance to learn more about the lake and meet many of your neighbors. The agenda is as follows:
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On July 27th members of the BLIA and Margaret Ives of the Derry Conservation Commission attended
a training session presented by the NH Lakes Association concerning the Watershed Steward Program
(WSP). This is a reward based educational program for watershed property owners. The BLIA
ia a pilot lake involved in the early stages of the program. Anyone interested in having their
property evaluated should contact Mary Hamblett at 437.3813
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Most recently updated on Friday, June 01, 2001.
Also visit our friends at:
New Hampshire Lakes Association
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services