Author Archives: Jon Samuelson

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO HELP THE PLA

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Hello fellow lake lovers.   We  STILL  need you.

Although the unofficial end to summer has passed, there is still time for those who have not joined the PLA to join for this year.  We run our membership on a calendar year basis, so a donation can be made anytime between Jan and Dec.

These past 4 weeks have been a tough time, with the Cyano bloom curtailing most of our recreational lake activities.   But, …your lake association continues it’s work to try to make those blooms become a thing of the past.*  Working with AWWA and several volunteers, the first 300 foot segment of a vegetated buffer for erosion control along Rt 153 is complete.  The next 300 feet will be done in 2026.*  Another beach cleanup is complete, preventing that trash from entering the lake.*  The Lake Host inspectors have concluded their season.*  We are awaiting State reimbursement on one grant, and are actively working to hire an engineering firm to analyze and propose solutions to reduce run-off of sediment from the major tributaries.*  The results of the spring watershed survey will be available soon and we will then target the largest phosphorus contributing areas for mitigation.*  We will be reaching out to NH Lakes Association and NH-DES for suggestions on what we as a lake community can do.*  There is an upcoming septic system survey being prepared.
The larger the PLA membership list is, – the more impact we can have when reaching out for assistance and advice.
 
It is disappointing that of the approximately 540 names we have on our contact list, only 160 have joined or about 30%.  Also, although we have gained 11 new members this year, we also have lost 11 from last year as our membership is exactly at where we ended 2024.  Many of you have been members in the past.   Can we get you back?  As you know, we also are always looking for volunteers.  Many folks aren’t able to devote their time, which we understand, but a great alternative is to join the PLA.  It is a small price ($25 for the basic membership) to say you are at least doing your part to help.  Also, your donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

You can find information on how to join at this link .. https://provincelake.org/about/membership/

For those who have already joined, thank you.  You can verify your membership by viewing the membership page on our website or replying to this email and asking.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Regards,
Jon Samuelson
VP & Membership Chair

CYANOBACTERIA WARNING REMAINS – SEPTEMBER 4, 2025

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Hi Folks,

Sorry for the delay in sending this out.  DES took another sample on Wednesday and to no surprise, the counts were high again, so the Warning remains.  You can see the details below.

The PLA

———- Forwarded message ———
From: DES: Harmful Algal Bloom Program<DES.HAB@des.nh.gov>
Date: Thu, Sep 4, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Subject: Cyanobacteria WARNING Remains – Province Lake
To: DES: Harmful Algal Bloom Program <DES.HAB@des.nh.gov>

Hi all,

The cyanobacteria warning at your waterbody REMAINS, please see below for details.  

WaterbodyProvince Lake, Effingham/Wakefield
StatusWARNING
Issued8/13/2025
Resampling Date9/3/2025
Cyanobacteria TaxaDolichospermum
NotesNHDES continued to observe bloom conditions during the resampling event on 9/3. Multiple samples were collected around the waterbody, with the cyanobacteria cell density at levels too numerous to count.   Please report through the Bloom Report Form if you continue to observe bloom conditions and to aid in resampling efforts next week. NHDES is tentatively scheduled to resample on 9/9.
  

Please visit the Healthy Swimming Mapper for the most current information about bloom location, status, and severity.

Cyanobacteria reports depict only what an observer sees in the water. The report may reflect a waterbody wide perspective if they boated around the waterbody and made observations, or it could be a single sighting from the shoreline. One sighting does not indicate that a watch or warning is necessary, but it does indicate that those on or around the waterbody should be aware that cyanobacteria have been observed beyond what is natural, and that they should be on the lookout for shifting bloom conditions and report them via theBloom Report Form. Reports will be removed from the Healthy Swimming Mapper after one week if no further reports are received.

Watches are issued when samples are evaluated and cyanobacteria are in higher abundance than normal background levels at multiple locations, but that densities are below 70,000 cells/mL or when clear photographic evidence indicates a bloom is occurring.  

Warnings are issued when samples are evaluated microscopically, and cell counts exceed 70,000 cells/mL and the bloom is widespread or extends to multiple locations on the waterbody. A warning does not close the waterbody to recreational use. The warning is intended as a precautionary measure to inform the public of the potential health risks associated with cyanobacteria blooms. Please see our updated FAQs for more information.

NHDES advises lake users to not swim in or near the vicinity of where bloom material is visible. Please also keep pets and livestock out of areas where bloom material is observed. It is suggested that local authorities post the 2025 cyanobacteria sign at public access points while a warning is in place to alert the public of current conditions.  

Please forward this email to other residents / community members who may benefit from this information. If they would like to be added to the email distribution list, please have them sign up to be directly included on future communications from NHDES. If you prefer to no longer receive these sampling updates, simply respond, and indicate “unsubscribe”.

Best,

The CyanoHAB Team
Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Bloom Program
Watershed Management Bureau, Water Division
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095
603-848-8094   hab@des.nh.gov  

Report a Bloom
Healthy Swimming Mapper

CYANOBACTERIA WARNING REMAINS – AUGUST 28, 2025

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Hi folks,

No surprise here.  DES sampled yesterday and the Warning remains.  See below.

Regards,

The PLA

Hi again,

Unfortunately, the cyanobacteria warning at your waterbody REMAINS, please see below for details.  

WaterbodyProvince Lake, Effingham/Wakefield
StatusWARNING
Issued8/13/2025
Resampling Date8/27/2025
Cyanobacteria TaxaDolichospermum
NotesNHDES continued to observe bloom conditions during the resampling event on 8/27. Multiple samples were collected around the waterbody, with the cyanobacteria cell density ranging from 50,400 – 656,000 cells/mL.   Please report through the Bloom Report Form if you continue to observe bloom conditions and to aid in resampling efforts next week. NHDES is tentatively scheduled to resample on 9/3.
  

Please visit the Healthy Swimming Mapper for the most current information about bloom location, status, and severity.

Cyanobacteria reports depict only what an observer sees in the water. The report may reflect a waterbody wide perspective if they boated around the waterbody and made observations, or it could be a single sighting from the shoreline. One sighting does not indicate that a watch or warning is necessary, but it does indicate that those on or around the waterbody should be aware that cyanobacteria have been observed beyond what is natural, and that they should be on the lookout for shifting bloom conditions and report them via theBloom Report Form. Reports will be removed from the Healthy Swimming Mapper after one week if no further reports are received.

Watches are issued when samples are evaluated and cyanobacteria are in higher abundance than normal background levels at multiple locations, but that densities are below 70,000 cells/mL or when clear photographic evidence indicates a bloom is occurring.  

Warnings are issued when samples are evaluated microscopically, and cell counts exceed 70,000 cells/mL and the bloom is widespread or extends to multiple locations on the waterbody. A warning does not close the waterbody to recreational use. The warning is intended as a precautionary measure to inform the public of the potential health risks associated with cyanobacteria blooms. Please see our updated FAQs for more information.

NHDES advises lake users to not swim in or near the vicinity of where bloom material is visible. Please also keep pets and livestock out of areas where bloom material is observed. It is suggested that local authorities post the 2025 cyanobacteria sign at public access points while a warning is in place to alert the public of current conditions.  

Please forward this email to other residents / community members who may benefit from this information. If they would like to be added to the email distribution list, please have them sign up to be directly included on future communications from NHDES. If you prefer to no longer receive these sampling updates, simply respond, and indicate “unsubscribe”.

Best,

The CyanoHAB Team
Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Bloom Program
Watershed Management Bureau, Water Division
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095
603-848-8094   hab@des.nh.gov  

Report a Bloom
Healthy Swimming Mapper

LOON’S ON THE SHORE

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Hi All,

Evidently several people around the lake have been seeing loons go up onto the shore.  Our Loon Ranger (Donna Luce) reached out to the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) and asked them about it.  Caroline Hughes (LPC) sent the following message:

There seems to be a subset of loons that do that—we hear about it on scattered lakes throughout the state, and it’s something that we’ve been hearing about for years. Interestingly, it seems like adults that do it teach their chicks to do it, so it’s an individual variation sort of thing. As far as I’m aware, it’s not linked to cyano blooms, although it’s interesting to hear that it happens to be coinciding with a bloom on Province Lake.

So, if you happen to see them going up on the shore, it is nothing unusual.

Regards,
The PLA

CYANOBACTERIA WARNING REMAINS – AUGUST 22, 2025

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Hi Folks,

As you can see below, DES came and sampled the lake again on Thursday and no surprise, the warning remains for the lake.  You can see the results in the table below.  As usual please keep your eyes open and if the water looks bad, stay out.  This can change quickly, so you need to be vigilant.

Regards,

The PLA

Hello everyone,

Unfortunately, the cyanobacteria warning at your waterbody REMAINS, please see below for details.  

WaterbodyProvince Lake, Effingham/Wakefield
StatusWARNING
Issued8/13/2025
Resampling Date8/21/2025
Cyanobacteria TaxaDolichospermum
NotesNHDES continued to observe bloom conditions during the resampling event on 8/21. Multiple samples were collected around the waterbody, with the cyanobacteria cell density ranging from 71,800 – 1,920,000 cells/mL.   Please report through the Bloom Report Form if you continue to observe bloom conditions and to aid in resampling efforts next week. NHDES is tentatively scheduled to resample on 8/27.
  

Please visit the Healthy Swimming Mapper for the most current information about bloom location, status, and severity.

Cyanobacteria reports depict only what an observer sees in the water. The report may reflect a waterbody wide perspective if they boated around the waterbody and made observations, or it could be a single sighting from the shoreline. One sighting does not indicate that a watch or warning is necessary, but it does indicate that those on or around the waterbody should be aware that cyanobacteria have been observed beyond what is natural, and that they should be on the lookout for shifting bloom conditions and report them via theBloom Report Form. Reports will be removed from the Healthy Swimming Mapper after one week if no further reports are received.

Watches are issued when samples are evaluated and cyanobacteria are in higher abundance than normal background levels at multiple locations, but that densities are below 70,000 cells/mL or when clear photographic evidence indicates a bloom is occurring.  

Warnings are issued when samples are evaluated microscopically, and cell counts exceed 70,000 cells/mL and the bloom is widespread or extends to multiple locations on the waterbody. A warning does not close the waterbody to recreational use. The warning is intended as a precautionary measure to inform the public of the potential health risks associated with cyanobacteria blooms. Please see our updated FAQs for more information.

NHDES advises lake users to not swim in or near the vicinity of where bloom material is visible. Please also keep pets and livestock out of areas where bloom material is observed. It is suggested that local authorities post the 2025 cyanobacteria sign at public access points while a warning is in place to alert the public of current conditions.  

Please forward this email to other residents / community members who may benefit from this information. If they would like to be added to the email distribution list, please have them sign up to be directly included on future communications from NHDES. If you prefer to no longer receive these sampling updates, simply respond, and indicate “unsubscribe”.

Best,

The CyanoHAB Team
Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Bloom Program
Watershed Management Bureau, Water Division
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095
603-848-8094   hab@des.nh.gov  

LOON BANDING ON PROVINCE LAKE – AUGUST 13, 2025

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Hi All,

This is way too cool not to share with all of you.  Our Loon Ranger, Donna Luce, shared the following and the attached pictures.  Enjoy!

Last night Linda McKelvie, her granddaughter Taylor and I (Donna)  had the privilege of watching Caroline, Kayden and Logan, under the auspices of the Loon Preservation Committee, band the loons on Province Lake.  Both parents of Lord and Taylor were banded and the juvenile Taylor was also banded. They were able to band Hobbs, one of Hobb’s parents had already been banded and the other parent avoided being captured. The evening began at 7pm and continued until 1:15! 

CYANOBACTERIA WARNING ISSUED – AUGUST 13, 2025

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Hi Folks,

Unfortunately, as reported late last week, the lake has not been looking that great for the last week or so.  DES came yesterday, one of the worst days we have had and sampled the water.  The results are below, but basically the lake is under a warning and we are sharing that with you now.  DES also said that they are targeting to return next Wednesday to sample again.

As always, keep your eyes open and if the water doesn’t look good, stay out.  Per our previous email in regards to the vegetative buffer, we are trying to make some progress on reducing the phosphorus that gets into the lake and hopefully we can get the lake to turn a corner.  Of course, that doesn’t happen overnight.  The best way to help is to get  involved.  Join the PLA to get info, check out the important info section of our website for things that homeowners can do, and join in to an event as we had on Tuesday.

We will keep you posted.

Regards,
The PLA

———- Forwarded message ———
From: DES: Harmful Algal Bloom Program<DES.HAB@des.nh.gov>
Date: Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Subject: Cyanobacteria WARNING issued – Province Lake
To: DES: Harmful Algal Bloom Program <DES.HAB@des.nh.gov>

Hi all,

The status of the cyanobacteria bloom has been elevated at your waterbody, please see below for details.  

WaterbodyProvince Lake, Effingham/Wakefield
StatusWARNING
Issued8/13/2025
Bloom DescriptionGreen surface scums accumulating along the shorelines.
NotesMinor bloom conditions were first observed on 8/8 but developed into a more severe bloom over the weekend. NHDES staff collected multiple samples from around the waterbody on 8/12 that had cyanobacteria present at densities too numerous to count.   Please report through the Bloom Report Form so we can monitor bloom conditions.
  

Please visit the Healthy Swimming Mapper for the most current information about bloom location, status, and severity.

Cyanobacteria reports depict only what an observer sees in the water. The report may reflect a waterbody wide perspective if they boated around the waterbody and made observations, or it could be a single sighting from the shoreline. One sighting does not indicate that a watch or warning is necessary, but it does indicate that those on or around the waterbody should be aware that cyanobacteria have been observed beyond what is natural, and that they should be on the lookout for shifting bloom conditions and report them via theBloom Report Form. Reports will be removed from the Healthy Swimming Mapper after one week if no further reports are received.

Watches are issued when samples are evaluated and cyanobacteria are in higher abundance than normal background levels at multiple locations, but that densities are below 70,000 cells/mL or when clear photographic evidence indicates a bloom is occurring.  

Warnings are issued when samples are evaluated microscopically, and cell counts exceed 70,000 cells/mL and the bloom is widespread or extends to multiple locations on the waterbody. A warning does not close the waterbody to recreational use. The warning is intended as a precautionary measure to inform the public of the potential health risks associated with cyanobacteria blooms. Please see our updated FAQs for more information.

NHDES advises lake users to not swim in or near the vicinity of where bloom material is visible. Please also keep pets and livestock out of areas where bloom material is observed. It is suggested that local authorities post the 2025 cyanobacteria sign at public access points while a warning is in place to alert the public of current conditions.  

Please forward this email to other residents / community members who may benefit from this information. If they would like to be added to the email distribution list, please have them sign up to be directly included on future communications from NHDES. If you prefer to no longer receive these sampling updates, simply respond, and indicate “unsubscribe”.

Best,

The CyanoHAB Team
Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Bloom Program
Watershed Management Bureau, Water Division
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095
603-848-8094   hab@des.nh.gov  

RTE 153 VEGETATIVE BUFFER PART 1 A HUGE SUCCESS

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On Tuesday, August 12, 2025 a team of volunteers arrived at the beach area along Rte 153 in New Hampshire. There were 18 volunteers including 5 team members of our PLA partners the Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance. The task at hand on the day was to plant 120 plants (a combination of sweet fern, huckleberry and juniper), and spread 40 yards of erosion control mulch along 300 feet of the guardrail at the beach. It was a warm day, but that didn’t stop the team of volunteers. We got going at about 8:15 and we finished up at about 12:30. We did have some equipment help with a power auger to dig some of the holes and two tractors to bucket the mulch from across Rte 153 to the guard rail and then dump it for folks to spread it manually around the plants. We now have the task to keep them watered, which is not that bad of a task as there is lots of water in the lake.

This is phase one and we will be doing the exact same amount of planting and spreading next year as we complete the project that was funded by a grant from the NH DES cyanobacteria mitigation fund. Keep your eyes open for volunteer opportunities next year.

A big thank you to all the volunteers, including the AWWA Youth Conservation Corps, and of course NH DES for approving the funding of the project.

Here are some pictures from the day.