[Lakegeezer]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

Where Lake Winnipesaukeelace lakefronts get strong on-shore winds, neither algae nor milfoil can thrive in any annoying quantity. IMHO, Lake Winnipesaukeelace is too deep for a total eutrophication in our children’s' lifetimes, or maybe not for centuries.

Have you seen the milfoil along Hesky park in Meredith? That is an annoying quantity. In Moultonborough, mostly around Greens Basin and Lees Mills, there are over 400 acres impacted by milfoil. Check out here the information from the Milfoil committee and the mapped out milfoil areas. According to the state, the phosphorus in parts of the lake is approaching a level where, unchecked, eutrophication will be well underway in 10 years. Those who have been around for 20 or so years know how the lake has changed, and we ain't seen nothing yet. We will not see total eutrophication in our children's lifetimes, but they will know it is well under way.

If milfoil continues to spread, property values in parts of the lake will fall, putting an increased tax burden on others. If Winnipesaukee gets a reputation of having blue-green, ALS causing algae, you can kiss tourism good-by.

The shoreline protection act was one small step towards slowing the acceleration. The next step is to identify and attack the sources. Part of the answer is education. Another part is, unfortunately, more regulation to reduce runoff. The political will ebs and flows – and it is hard to get a read on what people feel about it today. The voters of Moultonborough will get a chance to approve some action this March. That will be an interesting data point.