We are sending you a quick note to inform you that NH DES has put a Research Buoy on the lake near the deep spot over toward the golf course. The picture below shows what it looks like. The purpose of the buoy is to gather temperature and oxygen levels at various depths of the lake to see if the lake ever truly stratifies and if so whether the oxygen level gets depleted at the deepest area. This will give us more information on whether phosphorus coming from the sediment at the bottom is a larger contributor to the phosphorus in the lake than we have previously thought.
There is a light on the buoy as well, so if you happen to be out at night, you will see it. Please stay away from it and tell your friends and neighbors to do the same. It is going to remain in the lake until fall of 2025, so basically a full year from now.
Again, please help us by not going near it and help spread the word.
DES did get samples yesterday and sent the following to us …..
Hi All,
Two samples were collected from Province Lake yesterday, from Ames Park and off of Bonnyman Road. Both had only low levels of cyanobacteria, 27,800 and 5,500 cells/mL of Dolichospermum.
The bloom has been reported as coming and going. For now, it appears to have passed, but may reappear! Keep us posted through the bloom report form and we’ll resample as necessary. Otherwise, the watch will remain active for a week, then we will take it off our map.
Best, Kate
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
NH DES has issued a Cyanobacteria WATCH for Province Lake. There have been some blooms seen on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. But, today the water is clear. DES will be here on Monday to get a sample. If the water looks as it does in the pictures below, a Warning will more than likely be issued. The attached pictures were from yesterday along Bonnyman Rd near Ames Park.
Bottom line of this is to keep your eyes open. It is supposed to be a beautiful weekend. If the water doesn’t look good, stay out.
After a beautiful holiday weekend, NH DES came out yesterday and sampled the water again. The Warning has been removed and the signs will be coming down. The official notice is below.
The PLA
Hi All,
The cyanobacteria warning at your lake has been removed, please see below for details.
Waterbody
Province Lake, Effingham/Wakefield
Status
WARNING REMOVED
Issued
8/2/2024
Removed
9/3/2024
Notes
Bloom conditions have passed based on sampling performed today. Four locations were sampled, and densities varied from no cyanobacteria present to 1,667 cells/mL. All samples had a fair amount of detritus, indicating that degrading material may still be present in the water.
While the bloom accumulation has dissipated, NHDES advises that lake-goers look out for discoloration or surface accumulations in the future. Please continue to monitor your individual shoreline for changing conditions.
The cyanobacteria warning signs can now be removed from public access points.
Thank you all for your communication. If you see cyanobacteria in the future, please report it through the bloom report form.
Please forward this email to other residents / community members who need 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
If you have been around for the last few days, this should not be a surprise as the entire lake has been green. Never seen it like this before. As a result, DES tested again today and had several areas well above the limit. See official report below.
The PLA
Hi All,
The cyanobacteria warning remains at your lake, please see below for details.
Waterbody
Province Lake, Effingham/Wakefield
Status
WARNINGremains
Issued
8/2/2024
Resampled (most recent sampling date)
8/22/2024
Cyanobacteria Taxa
Dolichospermum
Notes
The cyanobacteria density continues to exceed the state limit of 70,000 cell/mL, so the warning will remain active.The results from sampling locations are as follows:Remmick Rd, Effingham: 8,350,000 cells/mLOak Ave, Effingham: 11,000 cells/mLAmes Park, East Wakefield: 2,550,000 cells/mLBonnyman Rd @ Lilac Dr, East Wakefield: 29,600 cells/mLBonnyman Rd @ Silver Hill Dr, East Wakefield: 766,000 cells/mL
Please keep signs posted at public access points. NHDES will arrange for sampling again next week. Warning details can also be found on the Healthy Swimming Mapper. If you click on the waterbody, you can see our most recent sampling date. When warnings are lifted, the red symbol for the waterbody will no longer be on the map, and the waterbody will not be listed under “Current Cyanobacteria Warnings”.
Please forward this email to other residents / community members who need 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
No surprise here. The lake looks real bad .. it has been green for most of the week and blooms all around it. See the official notice below. Signs stay up for another week at least.
The PLA
Hi All,
The cyanobacteria warning remains at your lake, please see below for details.
Waterbody
Province Lake, Effingham/Wakefield
Status
WARNINGremains
Issued
8/2/2024 – reissued 8/12
Resampled (most recent sampling date)
8/15/2024
Cyanobacteria Taxa
Dolichospermum
Cyanobacteria Density (cells/mL)
1,971,133
Notes
The cyanobacteria density continues to exceed the state limit of 70,000 cell/mL, so the warning will remain active. Significant bloom conditions were reported through the week as well.
Please keep signs posted at public access points. NHDES will arrange for sampling again next week. Warning details can also be found on the Healthy Swimming Mapper. If you click on the waterbody, you can see our most recent sampling date. When warnings are lifted, the red symbol for the waterbody will no longer be on the map, and the waterbody will not be listed under “Current Cyanobacteria Warnings”.
Please forward this email to other residents / community members who need 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
Unfortunately the Cyanobacteria Warning has been reissued for Province Lake. This is based on bloom reports and pictures shared over the weekend and not a new sampling. They will be back on Friday to resample. See official announcement below.
Regards, The PLA
Hi All,
I apologize for the confusion, but we will be “re-opening” the cyanobacteria warning on Province Lake. Over the weekend, several people reported increased bloom conditions. Please see the pictures attached. Bloom conditions have reappeared along the south shoreline on Bonnyman Road. We are reopening the warning without additional sampling because we already know there is cyanobacteria in the system (sampling on Friday indicated continued cyanobacteria presence below bloom densities), and from the pictures it is evident that the density will be above the recreational use guideline. Please let me know if you have any questions. We will plan to resample again on 8/16. Please post signs again at public access points.
Waterbody
Province Lake, Effingham and Wakefield
Status
WARNING
Issued
8/2/2024 – reissued 8/12
Bloom Description (picture attached)
Thick green clouds of material and light green films on surface of water.
Cyanobacteria Taxa
Dolichospermum
Cyanobacteria Density (cells/mL)
535,000
Notes
Bloom appeared again 8/10 and 8/11 at several locations along the south shoreline.
Warnings are issued when cell counts exceed 70,000 cells/mL. NHDES advises lake users to not wade or swim in or near the vicinity of a bloom during a warning. Please also keep pets and livestock out. The warning is intended as a precautionary measure for short term exposure. Please see our newly updated FAQs for more information.
Warnings remain active until the bloom subsides. I will reach out to you before then for updates. If you have information on where accumulated material is being observed at that time, please let us know to guide our sampling efforts. You can also see warning details on the Health Swimming Mapper.
To the health officer or other official responsible for posting signs, please post cyanobacteria warning signs at all public access points. We have a new version of the sign available for use. Please feel free to print and use this new sign until we can deliver a laminated version to you. Please let us know how many and the address to drop off new signs if you are interested. NHDES will be in contact again once the warning is lifted and signs can be removed.
Please forward this email to other residents / community members who need 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,
Kate Hastings Program Coordinator 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
The Warning for Province Lake has been lifted. See official notice below. The signs will be coming down shortly. However, as we all know, blooms can come and go quickly, so please keep your eyes open. Have a great weekend.
The PLA
Hi All,
The cyanobacteria warning at your lake has been removed, please see below for details.
Waterbody
Province Lake, Effingham and Wakefield
Status
WARNING REMOVED
Issued
8/2/2024
Removed
8/9/2024
Notes
Four samples were reviewed, three from Bonnyman Rd, and one from Sunset Rd. All had densities ranging from 6,867 – 11,200 cells/mL Dolichospermum. The rain may have suppressed densities, but community members reported that water conditions had improved from last week. Please let us know if bloom conditions appear again next week.
While the bloom accumulation has dissipated, NHDES advises that lake-goers look out for discoloration or surface accumulations in the future. Please continue to monitor your individual shoreline for changing conditions.
The cyanobacteria warning signs can now be removed from public access points.
Thank you all for your communication. If you see cyanobacteria in the future, please report it through the bloom report form.
Please forward this email to other residents / community members who need 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, Kate Hastings
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
Unfortunately, the cyanobacteria is back at Province. DES came out today and took a sample and has issued a Warning. As such, the signs will be going back up. See the official notification below.
Regards, The PLA
Hi All,
A cyanobacteria warning has been issued for your waterbody. Please see below for information.
Waterbody
Province Lake, Effingham and Wakefield
Status
WARNING
Issued
8/2/2024
Bloom Description (picture attached)
Thick green clouds of material and light green films on surface of water.
Cyanobacteria Taxa
Dolichospermum
Cyanobacteria Density (cells/mL)
535,000
Notes
Bloom is appearing in many locations along the south shoreline.
Warnings are issued when cell counts exceed 70,000 cells/mL. NHDES advises lake users to not wade or swim in or near the vicinity of a bloom during a warning. Please also keep pets and livestock out. The warning is intended as a precautionary measure for short term exposure. Please see our newly updated FAQs for more information.
NHDES will resample in a week. Warnings remain active until the bloom subsides. I will reach out to you before then for updates. If you have information on where accumulated material is being observed at that time, please let us know to guide our sampling efforts. You can also see warning details on the Health Swimming Mapper.
To the health officer or other official responsible for posting signs, please post cyanobacteria warning signs at all public access points. We have a new version of the sign available for use. Please feel free to print and use this new sign until we can deliver a laminated version to you. Please let us know how many and the address to drop off new signs if you are interested. NHDES will be in contact again once the warning is lifted and signs can be removed.
Please forward this email to other residents / community members who need 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,
Kate Hastings Program Coordinator
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
As you know, the annual meeting will have a couple of guest speakers that are experts on ways to help mitigate cyanobacteria blooms. In addition, you should be aware that the board created a subcommittee in the fall of 2023 to look into possible treatment options for when there is a bloom. The subcommittee primarily used the list of options from the US EPA website and dug deeper into options that, at first glance, seem possible for Province Lake.
The attached table is a summary of that work. The first 3 columns are directly from the EPA website. The last three are case studies, additional information and Province Lake potential. We thought it would be good to allow you to review this before the meeting and therefore we are providing this to you now. The long and short of this is that there is no “silver bullet”. Any option would require approval and permitting from NH DES, and we are not sure what involvement would be required of Maine DEP. Most are very expensive, and to obtain funding through grants etc. will not be quick. The best and longest term solution is to limit the nutrient load into the lake. This will be the primary focus of the guest speakers. After the speakers, there will be some time to talk about the table attached.
As a reminder, the meeting will take place on Saturday July 27 at Edge Lake Farm at the Golf Course. Social meeting starts at 9:30, with the actual meeting beginning at 10. We hope to see you there.
