Dear Members, Neighbors, and Lake Lovers:

Ice In/Out:  As of March 12, ice could be seen over most, if not all, of the Lake.  While we all might be hoping for an early Spring, a long rest under an icy blanket benefits Spofford by controlling the temperature of the Lake.  

According to Weeder Digest   “The health of your lake in July is often determined by what happens in January. .. Ice cover is actually a vital "blanket" that regulates the health of your lake for the entire year.  It isn't just a platform for ice fishing; it is a sophisticated climate regulator. 

“If that ice doesn't form correctly—or if it thaws too early—it can throw the entire ecosystem out of balance. Think of ice cover as a protective seal. It prevents the wind from churning up the water and helps manage how much light reaches the plants below. Without a consistent winter freeze, your lake loses its rhythm, which can lead to warmer water in the summer and potentially more issues with algae and water clarity” and cyanobacteria.

“When we see shorter winters or "ice-on" periods that don't last as long as they used to, it creates a ripple effect. The cold water acts as a reset button for the biological processes of the lake. Without that reset, the lake can "overwork" itself, leading to oxygen depletion and stress on the fish populations you enjoy.

"The loss of ice cover impacts the phenology of aquatic life.  Many fish species in temperate zones rely on specific thermal cues for spacing and egg development."

Another benefit that all the melted ice adds highly oxygenated water to the Lake.  Spofford suffers from poorly oxygenated water in a number of areas, and particularly at the deep spot. 

What’s the Problem with Salt?  Lowering YOUR Phosphorous Impact. The SLA has worked with the Town and State on lowering the amount of road salt.  Perhaps more needs to be done, especially after a snowy winter.  Do you have any anecdotes or photos?  If so, send them to info@spoffordlakeassociation.org.  Interesting to see that Keene is experimenting with a liquid road de-icer, magnesium chloride.  Click here for the March 9 article in the Keene Sentinel.

While road salt is certainly not good for lakes, neither is salt originating from home water softening systems.  Most systems rely on sodium pellets or crystals to reduce the impact of calcium and magnesium in your home water.  During the system regeneration process, the sodium is rinsed out into your septic tank, finding its way into the soil and eventually into Spofford Lake. 

Does your home have a water softening system?  Does the system use salt, e.g., Morton Water Softener Crystals to achieve ‘soft’ water?  The SLA and NH LAKES urges you to consider using an alternative product, potassium chloride, to achieve the same result.   It’s more expensive but brings benefits to homeowners and certainly to our lake.   Here is a bit more on the topic from NH LAKES.    

SLA Board Meeting Dates:  The 2026 season is upon us.  The Board plans to meet seven times, with most meetings being the first Monday of the month.  The dates are April 13, May 4, June 1, July 13, August 8, September 7, and October 5.  All meetings begin at 7:00pm, are open to the public and posted to our Board Meetings page and the monthly calendar.   Zoom details will be provided soon. 

Membership Dues and LPF Donations:  Without prompting, about a dozen folks have already sent in their 2026 dues and LPF donations.  Thank you very much.  We look forward to many others doing same soon.  To renew online, click here.  Please send checks to the SLA, PO Box 177, Spofford NH 03462.  Thank you. 

And if you enjoy our Gazette content and the work we do to protect Spofford Lake, please join the SLA by using this link. Again, your support is appreciated. 

Water Quality Monitoring:  Dates have been set for this year’s regular sampling events.  Our on-shore and on-water teams will be doing their work on May 26, July 28, August 25, and September 29.  Smaller crews will perform turnover tests in April and November. 

Community News:  

• Controlling runoff:  At the recent Chesterfield Town Meeting, residents agreed that the Town should purchase a 9.77 acre parcel of land (parallel to Rte 63 and below Pinnacle Springs Rd) from the State for $30,000.  The intent of the Town’s purchase is to conserve the tract.  It will be a non-building or clearing (i.e., logging) site. This should be helpful in the Town’s efforts to mitigate storm runoff from this area into the Lake.  
  
• Improving an Eyesore:   The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to acquire the Electrosonics property (corner Church St and Rte 9A) by tax deed. With that, the Chesterfield Revitalization Group got to work writing and submitting a federal EPA grant proposal ($1.5 million) to clean up the site and demolish the deteriorating building.  This was submitted in late January. 

Assuming acceptance, (expected by late spring/early Summer) actual clean up and demolition of the site, along with other paperwork are expected to take another year.  At the same time, the CRG will brainstorm possible future uses of the property, including selling it or creating a nonprofit and using donated funds to build a green space.  For more info, check out the Town website.

That’s all for now, 

The Spofford Lake Association

New Invasive Species, Spiny Water Flea:  This new invasive has already been found in Lakes Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam.  While small, it poses harm in many ways