You can easily find public access sites using the NH Boating and Fishing Public Access Map on Google Earth. Simply zoom in on Winnisquam Lake and click on a site for more information.

Public Access Sites for Winnisquam Lake:

Site Name: Water Street, Laconia, NH

Remember to Clean, Drain, & Dry your boat!

Information courtesy of the New Hampshire Lakes Association.

Unfortunately, our waterbodies in New Hampshire and throughout the country are under attack from invading aquatic invasive species. Plants like variable milfoil and animals like zebra mussels cause serious problems. Not only do they crowd out native plants and animals in our waterbodies, they affect people by fouling boating, swimming and fishing areas and reducing shoreline property values and tourism.

Aquatic invasive species can be spread between waterbodies on boating, fishing, and recreational equipment that has not been cleaned, drained, and dried before being used in another waterbody. The good news is boaters, including canoeists and kayakers, can help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by always remembering to “Clean, Drain, and Dry” their vessels, trailers, and recreational gear before launching into and after taking out of a waterbody. Here’s how:

Clean
Before boating and before leaving the launch, remove all visible plants and other debris from your boat, trailer, and other recreational gear, and dispose of it in a trash container.

Drain
After boating and before leaving the launch, drain water from bilge, live wells, and bait buckets.

Dry
Before boating again, dry the boat, trailer, and other equipment and recreational gear that has come in contact with water. At least five days of drying time is recommended. And, if possible, rinse your boat and gear off after every use – the hotter and higher the pressure of the water, the better. Ensure that rinse water does not enter surface waters. (Commercial hot water car washes work well.)

During summer months, you’ll encounter a Lake Host! 

The Lake Host™ Program is a courtesy boat inspection program administered by NH LAKES in cooperation with local participating groups to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species, plants and animals, from waterbody to waterbody.

 Trained Lake Hosts staff boat ramps to:

• Educate visiting boaters about aquatic invasive species (plants and animals)

• Conduct a brief boater survey

• Teach boaters the “Clean, Drain & Dry” method for preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species

• Conduct courtesy boat and trailer inspections to remove all hitchhiking aquatic invasive species

• Send suspicious species fragments to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for identification