In partnership with NH LAKES the Winnisquam Watershed Network staffs the public boat launch in Laconia with trained Lake Hosts throughout the summer. Lake Hosts greet boaters as they enter and leave the lake, educate them on the dangers of transporting aquatic invasive species, and offer to perform a voluntary boat inspection to ensure that no invasives are traveling on boats or trailers as they enter and exit the lake. They also educate boaters about the Clean, Drain and Dry method for aquatic invasive species prevention. The Lake Host program on Lake Winnisquam is funded by Winnisquam Watershed Network supporters in partnership with NH LAKES and is an important means of protecting the lake from invasive species.

2024 Campaign

This is our 5th year of the Lake Host program on Lake Winnisquam at the NH Fish & Game Water Street location in Laconia. Lake Hosts Deb Williams and Noel Leigh began observing boats and their trailers on May 24th and finished on September 8th. During that period, they inspected 3,248 boats and their trailers. Fortunately, no invasive plant species were observed.

Though this year presented some new challenges. Spiny Water Fleas, a microscopic invasive animal, has been discovered in Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Winnisquam. Boaters, especially fishermen, were alerted to the threat these fleas present to the health of fish. All boaters were asked to pay special attention to cleaning their fishing gear and boating equipment. Hopefully, proper cleaning will prevent the spread of Spiny Water Fleas to other water bodies. There are no treatments available to control this species once it is established.

The second challenge encountered this year was the tree cutting activities of beavers living near the boat dock at the ramp. The beavers took down six trees, some over a foot in diameter, blocking the parking lot! And the last challenge at the boat ramp was when snapping turtles hatched at their nest right next to the ramp. The nickel-sized baby turtles were rescued and relocated to the neighboring Winnipesaukee River. It was an exciting summer at the ramp!

2023 Campaign

This is our 4th year of the Lake Host program on Lake Winnisquam at the public launch site at the NH Fish & Game Water Street location in Laconia. We’re tremendously lucky to have 2 full time staff, Deb and Barb, that love their job and help to keep our lake free of invasive species. Our lake hosts are even featured on the NH Lakes Lake Host website. Many boaters look forward to seeing Deb and Barb as they launch their boat, and appreciate the information they provide. They’ve been inspecting boats and trailers entering and leaving the lake every day since Memorial Day weekend, and by the end of the summer have inspected over 3,000 boats and trailers. In August they made another important save when they found several water chestnuts on the trailer of a boat about to be launched. The boat had previously been used on Lake Champlain, where the water chestnut infestation has become a serious problem. This is the third year in a row that Deb and Barb have found invasives.

2022 Campaign

Our lake hosts have been inspecting boats and trailers entering and leaving the lake since Memorial Day weekend. And as of August 19, they’ve inspected 3,000 boats! The ramp at the NH Fish & Game Water Street location in Laconia is staffed 7 days a week throughout the summer months. During the month of July our lake hosts scored another major “save”. They found an invasive water chestnut seed hitchhiking on a boat trailer preparing to launch a boat. This is the 3rd save in 2 summers! Our lake hosts will continue to be on the job through early September.

See the NH Department of Environmental Services Water Chestnut Environmental Fact Sheet for more details on how the water chestnut can negatively impact waterbodies.

2021 Campaign

During the month of June our lake hosts scored a major “save”. They found a piece of invasive water chestnut hitchhiking on someone’s boat trailer. The hosts inspected 4,330 boats/trailers, and had a second major save of another water chestnut later in the summer.

Due to the success of our winter fund raising campaign and a generous grant from NH LAKES, WWN was able to staff the Lake Host program 7 days a week throughout the summer months at the NH Fish & Game Water Street ramp in Laconia. Staff began the program on weekends starting in late May. In late June Lake Hosts began the 7 days a week program, which ran until school started again in September. The program finished the season with a couple of weekends in mid September.

2020 Campaign

Our Lake Host program wrapped up in September with 2,616 boats inspected.  The Water Street ramp was monitored by 4 hosts throughout the Summer from Thursday to Sunday.  Approximately 3% of boats/trailers had weeds, all were native.  Dean Anson, coordinator of the Lake Host program for Lake Winnisquam, commented that the vast majority of people launching boats at the ramp were familiar with the Lake Host program and therefore had cleaned, drained and dried their boat between launches.

The WWN would like to expand this program by adding paid or volunteer staff at the ramp to cover additional weekdays. If you’re interested in volunteering please click on the link below to send us an email.