Freedom—March 14, 2018—Each year the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) updates the state’s long-term plan for addressing aquatic invasive species (AIS) in the Ossipee Lake System. Its purpose has five elements:

1. Identify and describe historic/current infestations
2. Identify AIS control goals (both short term and long term)
3. Minimize impact to non-target species
4. Recommend AIS actions that meet plan goals
5. Evaluate control practices over time to determine efficacy

These plans provide a roadmap of what will be done both now and in the future. They’re  updated annually to account for changes in conditions, as well as changes in mitigation practices based on research studies.

While we have made great progress in this ongoing battle, the areas requiring attention continue to grow as AIS spreads further—both here and around the state. The primary culprit of that spread is believed to be human activity such as boating, which creates fragments of plants that can take root and spread the infestation further.

The largest and oldest infestation is on the Danforth Ponds (a campground site for many years). Other primary locations include Broad Bay, Marist Cove, Ligouri Cove, the Freedom Village Condos, the area approaching the dam and over it, down the Ossipee River. We are now exporting milfoil to Maine!

All of these local management efforts are undertaken in concert with DES to help ensure the long-term health of our aquatic ecosystem. Please let us know if you have any questions about the report, which can be accessed here.

Jim McElroy
Roberta MacCarthy