Dear Members, Neighbors, and Lake Lovers:

Annual Meeting of Members and Water Quality Review:  The SLA held its Annual Meeting on Saturday, July 26 at the Spofford Yacht Club.  Many thanks to the club for its hospitality, yet again.  By the smiling faces and the many hearty laughs, it seems that everyone had a great time.  See photos of the event here.

As for the business part of the evening, Kelli Hanzalik and Art Huggins were renewed as members of the Board of Directors.  Cindy Holton, Susan Donahue, Peter Holton, and Hanzalik were renewed for 1-year terms, as Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and President, respectively.  Bayard Tracy will no longer serve as a member of the Board.  A replacement was not named at this time.  To meet the Board of Directors, click here.

Peter Holton reported strong balances for both the Lake Preservation Fund and the operating account.  Holton noted while the operating account had been enriched by NH Charitable gaming revenue that regular membership dues revenue is well behind this time last year and urged everyone, especially those not at the meeting to renew their membership now.  As a post meeting note, while we nearly broke even on the dinner, raffle sales and silent auction bidders will allow us to add about $1,600 to our operating coffers.

Hanzalik highlighted the renovation of the boat ramp and parking area since the last meeting, noting that some have called it the ‘best boat ramp in the State.”  She went on to thank all those involved, particularly the Town and a private resident, who invested considerable sums to bring the project to fruition. Residual funds from the resident’s donation, have been earmarked in the SLA’s budget for boat ramp area maintenance, particularly dock removal and installation.

Water quality was a principal focus of the meeting.  Hanzalik reminded folks of the methodical, layered approach taken by the SLA in ongoing consultation with FB Environmental.  In 2022/2023, we built out and updated the locations for water sampling and standardized the timing of those samples to achieve more comprehensive and complete data.  In August 2024, the continuous monitoring buoy (CMB) was installed.  The CMB records temperature and dissolved oxygen levels at various depths over the deep spot.  Initial results from the buoy are not encouraging with low dissolved oxygen registering anoxic tendencies for extended periods, i.e., levels of dissolved oxygen significantly below healthy thresholds, raising serious concerns about the overall health of our Lake.  

Low dissolved oxygen is principally a function of too much phosphorus in the water, whether decades old or new to the water column, from e.g., runoff, household cleaning and lawn products, and septic. 

As the buoy only monitors conditions over the deep spot, plans have been made the week of August 11, weather permitting, to take core sediment samples at 12 other locations at a variety of depths along two primary flow transects across the Lake.  These new sediment samplings, collected both within and outside of the current known low oxygen area, will allow more detailed insight into the location, type and amounts of phosphorous and provide guidance on the risks we face and what remedial actions will need to be taken in the future.  For a more complete picture, visit our Water Quality webpage. Also check out our Glossary of Lake Terms.

Results of the core samples are expected by the end of October.  Pending the results, the SLA will hold an informational session with a Zoom option, likely November, on what remediation options are available and at what cost.  All remediation is very expensive.

Several members urged residents take ‘a pledge’ to only use low/no phosphorous household and lawn care products as well as no-salt water treatment pellets.  In the case of lawn care, assure that your landscape company to only uses lake-friendly products.  Resources on such products are available on our Homeowner’s Guide webpage. Or check out NH LAKES section on lawn care.

Other member questions focused on invasive Japanese knotweed remediation and the use of road salt by the Town and State and its contribution to the Lake’s chloride and conductivity levels, other components of Spofford’s overall health.

Spofford Loon Update:  Loon Preservation Committee biologist, Sydney Pine, visited Spofford on July 7 and toured the Lake with Val Starbuck.  Here’s their report.  “There is absolutely no sign of a nest on the island that we could see and if there is one with an egg then it is very well hidden. Sometimes people mistake a goose nest for a loon nest which is why somebody might have thought they saw a nest with an egg.   It's possible the loons did have an egg and abandoned it, but we did not find it. 

The two adults are often seen together but with no chicks.  That is a pretty sure sign that they did not have a family this year.  Otherwise, one would be sitting on the unhatched egg or the chicks would be paddling with them. 

There are several reasons they might not have had a nest this year. One is that there was a third loon for quite a while this spring, possibly making them feel unsafe.  Thus, they held off making a nest until it was too late in the season.

The adults appear very happy and did a lot of fishing and preening in the Southwest corner of the Lake on July 4.  Both are unbanded so we believe they are the ones that have been coming back to the lake for several years.”  Maybe we’ll have chicks again next year!

NH Legislative Update:  As reported by NH LAKES, here’s an abbreviated update of state initiatives that became law in the 2025.  “Lawmakers considered more than 1,150 bills this year…Because of your advocacy…,Three important, lake-friendly bills were signed into law.

“One of these new laws (HB 167) bans the use of ski, boat, and board waxes containing PFAS, harmful “forever chemicals” that don’t break down and have been found in our lakes and drinking water.

“Another (HB 416) prohibits the dumping of yard waste, such as leaves and grass clippings, into surface waters, helping to reduce nutrient pollution and improve water quality.

“The third law (SB 299) ensures contractors, who violate shoreland protection laws, can be held accountable, protecting both our lakes and responsible property owners.

While some important initiatives didn’t pass this session, your advocacy helped build momentum and sent a clear message: lake health matters to communities across New Hampshire….”

Quiet Hours:  We have had a member suggestion urging the setting of quiet hours.  While this is a matter for the Town and/or State to decide, perhaps we could all bear in mind that Spofford is used for many people for many reasons, a quiet paddle, a refreshing swim, an exhilarating sail, and a stylish water ski. Please consider others when making choices about the time of day and noise level of your activity.  If you have any renters or other visitors, please pass on this suggestion so they are equally aware. 

Warm 😎 regards, 

The Spofford Lake Association