LAKE KANASATKA Water Quality Monitoring: 2011 Summary and Recommendations NH LAKES LAY MONITORING PROGRAM

LAKE KANASATKA Water Quality Monitoring: 2011 Summary and Recommendations NH LAKES LAY MONITORING PROGRAM By: Robert Craycraft & Jeffrey Schloss Center for Freshwater Biology University of New Hampshire To obtain additional information on the NH Lakes Lay Monitoring Program (NH LLMP) contact the Coordinator (Jeff Schloss) at 603-862-3848 or Assistant Coordinator (Bob Craycraft) at 603-862-3696. This page intentionally left blank PREFACE This report contains the findings of a water quality survey of Lake Kanasatka, Moultonborough New Hampshire, conducted in the summer of 2011 by the University of New Hampshire Center for Freshwater Biology (CFB) in con- junction with the Lake Kanasatka Watershed Association. The report is written with the concerned lake resident in mind and contains a brief, non-technical summary of the year 2011 results as well as more detailed "In- troduction" and "Discussion" sections. Graphic display of data is included, in addi- tion to listings of data in appendices, to aid visual perspective. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 2011 was the twenty-ninthy year Lake Kanasatka was monitored in con- junction with the New Hampshire Lakes Lay Monitoring Program (LLMP); the vol- Table 1: Lake Kanasatka unteer monitors involved in the water quality Volunteer Monitors (2011) monitoring effort are highlighted in Table 1. Site Monitor Name The Center for Freshwater Biology con- 1 Deep Carol Carlson gratulates the volunteer monitors on the qual- 1 Deep Rick Carlson ity of their work, and the time and effort put 2 Animal Kevin Kelly forth. We invite other interested residents to 2 Animal Sandra Kelly join the Lake Kanasatka water quality moni- 3 West Enid Burrows toring effort in 2012 and to expand upon the 3 West Rich Goulet current database. The New Hampshire Lakes Lay Monitoring Program is a not-for-profit citi- zen based research program coordinated by Robert Craycraft and directed by Jeff Schloss, Associate Director of the UNH CFB. Members of the CFB-LLMP summer field team included Michel Helou, Lejla Kadic, Ashley Lipus and Cara McGuire, while Emma Leslie and Jesica Waller provided additional assistance in the fall analyzing, compiling and organizing the water quality data. The LLMP acknowledges the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension for funding and furnishing office and storage space, while the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture provided laboratory facilities and additional storage space. The LLMP would also like to thank the Caswell Family Foun- dation for their continued generosity in providing long-term support for under- graduate assistantships, while additional support for administering the NH LLMP comes from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture through support from the Northeast States and Caribbean Islands Regional Water Quality Program, (http://www.usawaterquality.org/nesci/). Participating groups in the LLMP include: Acton-Wakefield Watershed Alliance, Green Mountain Conservation Group, North River Lake Monitors, the associations of Baboosic Lake, Bow Lake Camp Owners, Chocorua Lake, Conway Lake Conservation, Crystal Lake, Goose Pond, Great East Lake, Lake Kanasatka Watershed, Langdon Cove, Long Island Landowners, Lovell Lake, Mendums Pond, Merrymeeting Lake, Milton Three Ponds Lake Lay Monitoring, Mirror Lake (Tuftonboro), Moultonborough Bay, Lake Winnipesaukee, Naticook Lake, Newfound Lake Region, Nippo Lake, Silver Lake (Madison), Squam Lakes, Sunset Lake, Swains Lake, Lake Wentworth, Winnisquam Drive, and the towns of Alton, Amherst, Enfield, Madison, Meredith, Merrimack, Milton, Straf- ford and Wolfeboro. Major collaborators with the UNH CFB in 2011 included the NH Water Resources Research Center, New Hampshire Lakes Association, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Lakes Region Planning Commission, ii Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Sandy Point Discovery Center (NH Fish and Game and Great Bay National Estuary Research Reserve), EPA New Eng- land, the Volunteer Monitoring National Facilitation Project (USDA) and the Northeastern States and Caribbean Islands Regional Water Center (USDA Na- tional Institute of Food and Agriculture). iii Lake Kanasatka Water Quality Monitoring (2011) A volunteer based water quality monitoring was instituted on Lake Kanasatka in 1983 to track long-term water quality trends and to identify potential problem within the Lake Kanasatka watershed. This pro-active approach will help ensure that Lake Kanasatka continues to be a natural resource asset for future generations. 2011 Water Quality Data Water Quality monitoring continued in Lake Kanasatka during the “summer growing season” that spanned from May 30 to September 27. Water quality monitoring focused on the collection of water quality data at three deep sampling locations that provide insight into the overall condition of Lake Kanasatka. The 2011 Lake Kanasatka water quality data continued to indicate that the water quality remains high but at times exhibits short-term periods of greener and less clear water. Water transparency measurements are collected with a standardized eight inch diameter black and white disk that is lowered into the water column while looking through a view scope until it can no longer be seen. The scope ne- gates the influence of waves and sun reflection to allow more precise measure- ment. The Lake Kanasatka water transparency measurements remained high throughout the summer months and averaged 19.1 feet for the season. The amount of microscopic plant growth (visually detectible as golden or green water) generally remained low during the summer months although short- term green water events were documented. Phosphorus (nutrient) concentrations were highly variable when measured on August 15 and reached concentrations that are capable of supporting short-term algal blooms. Dissolved oxygen concentrations, required for a healthy fishery, were re- duced near the lake bottom and were suboptimal for coldwater fish species such as rainbow trout and salmon. Thus, Lake Kanasatka is best suited for a warm water fishery. Common Concerns among New Hampshire Lakes Many lakeshore property owners express concerns that increased aquatic plant “weed” growth and the amount of slime that coats the lake bottom in the shallows has been steadily increasing over the years. While quantitative data have not been generated to support these assertions in Lake Kanasatka, these are common concerns that have been expressed by residents throughout New Hampshire. As the lakeshore and the surrounding uplands are converted from a well forested landscape to a more suburbanized setting, more nutrients oftentimes enter the lake and in turn promote plant growth. Keep in mind, the same iv nutrients that stimulate growth of our lawns will also stimulate growth in our lakes. Nutrients can originate from a number of sources within the Lake Kanasatka watershed that include septic system effluent, lawn fertilizer runoff and sediment washout. While some nutrient loading will occur naturally even in our most remote New Hampshire Lakes, there are steps you can take to mini- mize nutrient runoff, that increases microscopic plant growth (greenness), con- tributes to the slimy coatings we find on rocks along our beaches and that is conducive to the formation of new, or expansion of existing weed beds around the periphery of Lake Kanasatka. 10 Recommendations for Healthy Lakeshore and Streamside Living Given the concerns discussed above make sure you consider the following recommendations and spread the word to your lake association and neighbors. 1. Encourage shoreside vegetation and protect wetlands - Shoreside vegetation (also known as riparian vegetation) and wetlands provide a protec- tive buffer that “traps” pollutants before reaching the lake. These buffers remove materials both chemically (through biological uptake) and physi- cally (settling materials out). As riparian buffers are removed and wetlands lost, pollutant materials are more likely to enter the lake and in turn, favor declining water quality. Tall shoreline vegetation will also dis- courage geese invasions and shade the water, which reduces the possibil- ity of aquatic weed recruitment including the dreaded invasive milfoil. 2. Limit fertilizer applications - Fertilizers entering the lake can stimulate aquatic plant and algal growth and in extreme cases result in noxious algal blooms. Increases in algal growth tend to diminish water transparency and under extreme cases culminate in surface “scums” that can wash up on the shoreline and can also produce unpleasant smells as the mate- rial decomposes. Excessive nutrient concentrations also favor algal forms known to produce toxins, which irritate the skin and under extreme condi- tions are dangerous when ingested. Use low maintenance grasses such as fescues that require less nutrients and water to grow. Do not apply any fertilizers until you have had your soils tested. A simple pH adjustment will oftentimes do more good and release nutrients already in the soils. After a lawn is established, a single application of fertilizer in the late fall is generally more than adequate to maintain a healthy growth from year to year. 3. Prevent organic matter loading - Excessive organic matter (leaves, grass clippings, etc.) is a major source of nutrients in the aquatic environment. As the vegetative matter decomposes, nutrients are “freed up” and can be- come available for aquatic plant and algal growth. In general, we are not concerned with

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