Ossipee—December 20, 2024—Broad Bay residents Edwina and Bob Boose are the latest local recipients of a “Lake Smart” award, recognizing that they maintain their lakefront home in ways that protect water quality, wildlife habitat and property values.

NH LAKES created the voluntary, non-regulatory award program to remind lake property owners that they have a role to play in lake protection, and to teach them ways large and small that they can have a positive impact on the environment.

Edwina Boose said she heard about the program while attending one of the annual Lakes Congress meetings held by the Concord non-profit NH LAKES.

She and her husband, who have lived on Broad Bay for 25 years, were utilizing sustainable techniques to minimize runoff and promote native vegetation, but were still seeing shoreline erosion from severe storms.

They wanted to know if they could do more, and the Lake Smart program provided a road map.

“I came back from the NH LAKES conference energized and filled out the paperwork to get started,” Edwina said.

Getting started is easy, according to Brea Arvidson, who heads the initiative. After applicants fill out a confidential 15-minute online survey, they receive an email with an array of tips and ideas based on the survey.

But the deeper value of the program is that applicants can request a free one-hour site visit or submit property photos and receive customized advice. Edwina and Bob took advantage of the site visit and said they learned a lot.

“We didn’t realize that black mulch is dyed and not good to have in our gardens,” she said. “Luckily this was the only summer we had used it, but now, never again!”

The couple, who are Broad-Leavitt Bay Association members, said one of their goals is to be an inspiration to their neighbors and friends, adding that they believe everyone on the lake has a role to play in making “lake-friendly living” a way of life.

Previous local recipients of a Lake Smart award include Lucie Villeneuve, Nancy Walser and Kathryn Lalumiere, according to NH LAKES program director Arvidson.

Information on the program and instructions on how to join may be found at www.nhlakes.org/lakesmart.