Ice-out was Saturday, April 21, at 9 p.m., according to Bob Smart, who enlisted seven observers from around the lake this year to help pinpoint the date. It’s the fourth latest ice-out date since records have been kept for our lake. While Danforth Pond and other bodies of water in the area remain ice-covered, spring and warm temperatures are well on the way.
Alliance Report
Latest Ossipee Lake Milfoil Management Plan Released
Thanks to the state and the work of volunteers in our three towns, there is constant progress being made to control invasive milfoil on the lake…but it’s a never-ending battle. Each year the state writes a summary report detailing where our milfoil is located, and what is being done to control it. Everyone who lives on the lake or recreates here is encouraged to read the report in order to understand the challenge and the work being done to address it.
Westward Shores Campers Given Deadline to Comply With Zoning Regulations
In a letter from Westward Shore’s management, campers have been told that their trailer or RV must comply with the requirements of Ossipee’s Floodplain Ordinance by October 20. The compliance requirement is of one of the outcomes of a settlement agreement that ended Freedom’s lawsuit against Ossipee over the campground’s planned expansion.
State Milfoil Spending Is Up, But Towns Still Pay the Most
A new Ossipee Lake Alliance survey shows state spending to control milfoil almost doubled between 2012 and 2017, but was still less than one-third of the total cost. Lake communities and associations paid the rest.
Country Ecology: Gray Jays
If you hike, chances are good that you’ve encountered a Gray Jay–a smart, impulsive, relatively tame bird that will approach looking for food crumbs from your snack or lunch. Gray Jays hide small caches of food throughout their territories in late summer and autumn so they’ll have a ready larder for winter. As such, they can survive cold winter conditions in which other birds can’t exist. But now, studies show unseasonably warm weather is threatening Gray Jays’ reproductive success.