Monique Tenander, Waterfront Specialist

Residents from Barnstead appeared before the Alton Board of Selectman on Monday night to try to get Alton to help with Barnstead's fight against an invasive aquatic plant called milfoil. Barnstead's chairman of the Milfoil Control Committee, Ed Neister, wrote a letter to the Alton selectman to ask them to help form a milfoil committee in Alton. Last summer, Barnstead's efforts led to a huge reduction of milfoil along the Suncook River. Alton also spent a huge amount of money to treat milfoil last summer in Alton Bay. Neister said "you can spend $5,000 to $10,000 to treat Alton Bay and then do it again the following year. The goal would be to have Alton, Barnstead, New Durham, and Wolfeboro to work together to come up with a long-term plan to make the milfoil manageable. In Barnstead, Locke Lake Colony Association's president said that the association has spent thousands to treat their milfoil problem only to have to come up with $25,000 more this year to treat a 25 acre patch of re-growth. Not only is milfoil a problem but pickle weed and water lilies were growing near the River View Motel in Alton last year. Eventually it would cause a swamp-like condition preventing the water to flow. Neister did say that the state would be willing to give community members all the training and support they need to form an effective milfoil committee. The goal is to get a committee formed and trained by September so they could apply for a grant from the state to help the town. Milfoil is not native to the state of New Hampshire. Officials believe it came here from the southern New England states. Most likely attached to a boat trailer or engine prop. Here are some tips to help prevent the transfer of milfoil;

-Clean your boat and trailer of all aquatic vegetation before launching to another water body.

-Try to avoid weed patches while driving a speedboat. This will lessen spreading the weed to other parts of the lake.

-Report any suspected milfoil infestations that you find in lakes.

-You can hand pull and remove the milfoil if it shows up on your waterfront.

-Keep your neighbors and any new property owners aware of the problem.

Early detection is essential to protect a lake from exotic weeds.

Meredith Rotary Club -Great Rotary Fishing Derby

Welcome to the Derby!
Over the past 27 years the Meredith Rotary Club's Ice Fishing Derby has contributed more than $1 million to statewide, regional and local projects and charitable organizations.

Click Here for more information regarding this year's ice fishing derby.

Photo by Mike McDavitt

Upper and Lower Suncook Lakes both sit at 551-555 feet above sea level. Together they comprise 578 acres. Lower Suncook is 216 acres with a maximum 15 foot depth. It's length is 3.6 miles. Upper Suncook is 362 acres with a maximum 41 foot depth and is 4.0 miles long. A significant Invasive Milfoil problem was successfully addressed during the summer of 2004 on Lower Suncook with herbicidal treatment. The Volunteer Lake Assessment is conducted each year by Carol Barrett. (Thanks Carol!) Depth goes to 41 feet and fish species include; rainbow trout, small and largemouth bass, pickerel, horned pout and white & yellow perch. Public boat ramp is at the bridge on Narrows Road. To view the associations website Click Here

Members of the Alton Shores Association have access to association owned beaches on Sunset Lake and Hill's Pond. Seasonal water is provided to members and the association maintains many of the roads. They are an organization that relies on volunteerism and camaraderie, to the benefit of our community. There is an annual meeting where members have an opportunity to become involved in the association. There is an annual work party that involves one day of clean up followed by a dinner party. Summer family activities such as group hikes or association wide cookouts are encouraged. Most of all, Alton Shores is a place to relax and enjoy life.

As for practical matters, there is ‘911' emergency service access in the community. In winter, the town plows the main road through the association.  The area's lakes and ponds offer swimming, fishing, boating and an opportunity to appreciate nature. Nesting loons attest to the purity of the water and moose and bear sightings verify the well being of the ecosystem in this region.

Finally, the people make Alton Shores a community. Whether at one of the beaches with the kids, in kayaks just after dawn, on mountain trails for the day or just on the back porch with neighbors, people make it great. There are many life-long friendships that began here during summer vacation. People seem more at ease among the camps and homes, the lakes and hills, the warm summer afternoons and frosty winter nights. Some say that they leave their worries on the other side of the mountain as they approach Alton Shores. Others claim that there's something about the clean air that comforts and relaxes them.

New Hampshire often experiences severe and damaging winter weather - most recently the destructive ice storm of ‘98 which caused extensive tree damage in several areas of the state. Property owners, particularly those with waterfront property, are well advised to thoroughly plan out cleanup efforts before they begin cutting or removing any trees or brush. The N.H. Department of Environmental Services (DES) offers the following advice for storm damage cleanup to help ensure compliance with the N.H. Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (CSPA), RSA 483-B.

Protecting the Shoreland. The DES Shoreland Protection Program urges property owners not to hastily remove storm-damaged trees, thinking that they are going to die or that they are otherwise exempt from tree-cutting regulations set forth under RSA 483-B. In areas that fall within the shoreland protection zone (within 150 feet of a public waterbody), the regulations pertaining to tree removal still apply regardless of the circumstances, e.g. ice storms. Dead, diseased, unsafe, or fallen trees, saplings, shrubs, or groundcovers may be removed. Their removal is not counted toward the limitations of tree removal set forth by RSA 483-B. However, in order for trees to be removed as designated "hazardous trees," property owners should consult with a certified forester or arborist.

Assessing the Damage. The N.H. Division of Forests and Lands offers the following criteria in assessing the effects of storm damage on the health and longevity of trees: Trees with branches broken off should completely recover. Those with extensive trunk damage may survive with human intervention, however their longevity may be in question. Anyone with questions about damaged trees are urged to contact an arborist for advice. Most often, winter storms cause "cosmetic" damage to trees, and within a few years those trees will replace their lost limbs and foliage.

Other Considerations. Also be aware of the following restrictions as they pertain to RSA 483-B. The operation of wheeled machinery within a wetland requires a permit. Slash piles and chipping are not allowed within 50 feet of the reference line of a waterbody. Burning is not allowed within 50 feet of the water. Stump removal is also not permitted within 50 feet of the reference line. DES recommends that property owners take photographs of trees that have been seriously damaged before they are removed. Lastly, please give tree removal careful consideration - it takes decades for a tree to reach maturity, and only minutes to cut it down.

DES recommends that anyone planning to cut trees within the protected shoreland zone be aware of the regulations set forth by RSA 483-B. Further information may be requested by calling DES's Shoreland Protection Program at 271-7109 or 271-6876.