A horse in Ossipee has tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis, an usual finding for our region that raises the risk level for the town of Ossipee from "remote" to "high." The surrounding towns of Tamworth, Madison, Freedom, Effingham, Wakefield, Brookfield, Wolfeboro, Tuftonborough, and Moultonborough will increase to “moderate” risk level.
The next step for the project is to receive all necessary permits to satisfy environmental protection requirements. Some work will be done to the bridge this fall, but work will not be completed this year.
The Nature Conservancy will be conducting a controlled burn in the Ossipee Pine Barrens Preserve today, September 19th. They will be burning 23 acres in the Town of Ossipee to the southeast of Windsock Village. The burn area is referred to as the “Windsock Village 2” burn unit. For further information, contact Jeff Lougee at (603) 356-8833 Ext. 2.
Lakefront property owners, including some who had not filed request for tax abatements, will receive tax relief this year after the Ossipee Board of Selectmen approved more than $123,045 in property tax rebates. According to an exhaustive review of lakefront land assessments on Ossipee Lake, the town will lose $7,916,200 in land value.
The State Dam Authority plans to maintain the lake at summer level until Columbus Day (10/14) and then begin the usual, gradual winter drawdown of 3.5 feet. I am counting on the usual fall flood some time in November or December to float my docks onto the beach. The Lake usually ices over by end of December.
The Nature Conservancy says the latest burn will be north of Ossipee Lake Road in Freedom. Controlled burns are used as part of land management in the Ossipee Pine Barrens.
A new state report shows local efforts are keeping the indestructible invasive weed in check. Several new treatments are recommended for later this month and September.
Danforth Pond and Ossipee Lake's bays are the focus of a public meeting set for 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, at Freedom Town Hall.
Harry Vogel of the Moultonborough-based Loon Preservation Committee will be the speaker at a Freedom Old Home Week event on Monday, August 5 at 7 p.m. This free event is open to the public.
Jim McElroy and R.A. Oram of the Freedom Aquatic Invasive Species Committee have issued a report to the Select Board detailing the group's milfoil control and prevention activities for the season to date. In the picture, milfoil markers are prepared for placement at Huckins Pond. Photo: R.A. Oram.
The NH Department of Environmental Services' Exotic Species Program coordinates the state's activities to prevent, research, and control invasive plants and other species. It is funded by $7.50 from each boat registered in the state each year, much of which comes back to local towns via grants for weed control and Lake Host inspectors. This report summarizes the broad range of activities conducted by the DES between 2009 and 2012.
Two favorite hikes in the Ossipee Lake area are profiled in this post on the Hike NH online forum.
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