~ Lake Armington AssociationFall Newsletter 2010 ~

October 8, 2010

Hello Lake Armington Folks,

As the bright fall foliage turns to smoky gray around Lake Armington, we want to update folks on happenings from the Lake Armington Association.

Focus on the Environment

Protecting the lake environment for future generations is the primary focus of Lake Association these days, the lion’s share ofprojects, Annual Meeting discussions and Executive Committee work.

The LAA Executive Committee is very concerned with the advancing spread of invasive exotic species in New Hampshire and Vermont’s lakes and rivers, and we believe we can no longer rest assured that Lake Armington will stay healthy forever without our active stewardship. The map and statement belowillustrate the story.

Our Actions

  1. The Lake Host program started in 2008, thanks to Bill and Wendy Cahill, to prevent recreational boaters and fishermen from infecting the lake with weeds on their boats or gear. During the summer, trained Lake Hosts greet boaters at the public launch and inspect boats for non-native invasive weeds.

To date the program has only covered Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for an 11 week summer season, leaving week-days unprotected. We plan to add Friday coverage in 2011 if we raise sufficient funds.

  1. The Weed Watcher program began in 2003 when Bill Morris received training by the Department of Environmental Services then monitored the lake for 4-5 years. Vickie Davis and Evie Conroy continue to monitor the lake for the presence of growing or established invasive exotic weeds and work with the State of NH to prevent their spread. This year the invasive ‘Common Reed’ along one shoreline was identified and will be eradicated.
  2. The Water Quality Testing program has been a fundamental lake association project for decades with Mike Poole leading the effort at present. Our lake is in the top 2% cleanest in the State, and this will continue only with our action.
  3. Lake Armington Association’s Memberships in NH Lakes Association and Loon Preservation Committee tie us into state-wide efforts. Participation in NH Lakes is required to qualify for Lake Host funding.

Focus on Health, Safety & Giving Back

The Lake Association as a whole supports the state-wide Boater Safety effort as well as community-focused 911 and Food Pantry initiatives.

Our Actions

  1. The LAA Web Site and the Information Kiosk, built by Chuck Interbartolo at the public boat launch, communicate boater safety and environmental awareness messages. The web site is at and gives a good snapshot of what LAA is and does, plus what’s new around the lake.
  2. The LAA Directoryenables people to contact each other, supporting public health and safety. Future editions will include the new 911 addresses.
  3. The Living at the Lakeguidelinesdocument brings everyone’s family members, guests and tenants up to speed on lake stewardship and safety issues. It’s available on the web site.
  4. Food Pantry Donations project solicits donations of non-perishable food for the local food pantry as we close up cottages for the winter. Take your non-perishables to Bill and Wendy Cahill’s garage on Bluebird Way where bins are set up for your contributionsthrough Columbus Day Weekend.

Annual Meeting on August 7th

More than 35 people gathered at Ken Settel and Linda Kline’s house on Sirecho Shores for a Potluck Picnic and Annual Meeting, plus a chance to get caught up with one another. We heard reports from our projects, learned about the new kiosk at the public launch and the tour of Camp Walt Whitman, discussed repairs to the public boat launch and concerns about the ‘No Wake Rule’ and boating safety, especially in the narrows. See the Lake Association web site for details at

What You Can Do – Pay Dues and Volunteer If/When You Can

  • Lake Armington Association dues are $20 a year and help fund our environmental lake stewardship efforts, such as the Lake Host Program that relies on paid and volunteer Lake Hosts. For us to expand its protection, we need 100% participation.
  • Many thanks to everyone who has contributed their dues this year. The lake association could not continue without your support!
  • If you haven’t sent in your check, now’s your chance. Send your $20 check made out to “Lake Armington Association” and mail it to LAA treasurer Evie Conroy at 272 Bluebird Way #7 Piermont, NH 03779.
  • Volunteer for one of our programs by contacting the program leader or a member of the Executive Committee. See the web site at
  • Offer to host the Lake Association Meeting next year, on a Saturday in August. Contact Polly Tafrate or Alice Wellington or any other board member.
  • Be alert and informed about how our changing environment impacts the future of lakes and rivers in New Hampshire and Vermont. Look over our “Living at the Lake’ document (on the web site) and communicate this with your family members and guests. Watch our web site for updates.

And Finally, a BIG Thank You to Volunteers and Contributors

  • Thank you to Camp Walt Whitman’s counselors and counselors-in-training for volunteering with the Lake Host program again this year!
  • Thank you again to all our dues contributors so far this year. We’ve posted your names on the LAA web site at

Best Wishes for the Fall and Winter,

Lake Armington Association Executive Committee 2011

Polly Tafrate, president

Mike Poole, vice president

Bill Cahill, past president

Alice Wellington, secretary

Evie Conroy, treasurer

Harry Burgess

Brad Caswell

Shawn Hennessey

Tod Langley

Carlos Manrique

Ann Soloway

SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES IN NH and VT in relation to LAKE ARMINGTON
2010

Lake Stewardship: Why Lake Armington is at Risk

Protection of Lake Armington from accidental introduction of invasive aquatic plants and animals is a major concern and goal of the Lake Armington Association.

Lake Armington receives boats coming from neighboring and out-of-state waterways nearly every day April through November. Ski boats, float boats, fishing boats, canoes and kayaks come with all kinds of gear including ski ropes, water skis, tubes, paddles, fishing lines, lures, boots and bait buckets, and typically with water in the boats and motors. All such boats, motors, gear and water can transport exotic and invasive aquatic plants and animals into Lake Armington.

The attached map of infested New Hampshire and Vermont waterbodies shows that Lake Armington is severely threatened. Many more sites exist in nearby New York, Massachusetts, and Maine. People bring their boats from neighboring and distant lakes, ponds and streams to Lake Armington with the extreme likelihood that some of these boats and their gear will carry unwanted plants and animals.

Once invasive plants and animals come in, they will thrive in Lake Armington and there will be little we can do. Take Eurasian watermilfoil, for example, which grows from a depth of as much as 20 feet and could completely fill in shallow Lake Armington.

Eradication of this weed, once established in a lake, is considered impossible. We could watch our beautiful lake disappear, our fun and enjoyment diminish, and our property values plunge. Unfortunately this scenario could happen in the next few years. The threat is immediate!

The best known way to prevent spread of these plant and animal pests is to visually inspect all boats and gear entering a water body, and to remove the pests by hand picking and careful disposal. Lake Hosts do this when performing watercraft inspections. Rinsing, even with high-pressure spray, does no better. Rock Snot (Didymo) is a difficult pest that requires careful disinfection of everything (boots, boats, motors and fishing tackle) that it has touched.

This past season (2010), infestation in New Hampshire was prevented in seven clean lakes, and held in check in nine already infested lakes, often multiple times, by observant Lake Hosts. The Lake Armington Association has engaged both paid and volunteer Lake Hosts to inspect incoming boats at our public boat launch site for the past three seasons. Certainly they have helped and deserve our thanks.

Yet we need to increase our Lake Host inspection of incoming boats by more hours and days of the boating season, requiring more funding and more volunteer time.

Hopefully boaters and fishermen will learn to self-check their boats and equipment. Additionally we need to inform everyone, boaters, camp owners, and especially renters alike, of this significant threat to our beautiful lake.

Thank you,

Lake Armington Association Executive Committee