Lake Host Program: This program is jointly sponsored by the New Hampshire Lake Association and the GPLA, and has as its primary goal to stop the introduction and spread of exotic aquatic plants in NH.  It helps to educate boaters and assist with boat inspections.  These boat inspections (done at “The Acre”) help detect invasive plants before they are introduced into the pond.  For example, in 2010 there were 624 individual boaters greeted by the Lake Hosts, with 335 of them as powerboats (down from 2009) and a total of 791 boat inspections.       

 

Some state funding is available to pay Lake Hosts for hours worked.  Volunteers are always welcome for this task.  Training is provided and hours are flexible.  If interested in participating in this program, please contact Barbara Dolyak, Lake Host Point Person, at: barbaradolyak@gmail.com 

 

Weed Watcher Program: This program, started in 2002, helps to fight the spread of invasive plants into the pond.  This is a voluntary program, done through the auspices of the DES, which anyone can be trained to do.  Local volunteers are the best defense, because they are often the most familiar with the pond.  This allows them to notice even a subtle change in plant growth.  Weed watching usually takes place once a month, from late May through September.  A training session is held in the spring.  Volunteers are instructed on how to conduct a “weed survey”, what to look for, and who to contact if there is a problem.  There is no cost to the participant.  If interested in participating in this program, please contact Steve Ward at:  stvbward@gmail.com     

 

Exotic aquatic plants such as milfoil and fanwort can create at least the following problems:           

     ~ Displacement of beneficial wildlife                 

     ~ Reduction of quality of lakes and ponds           

     ~ Devaluation of waterfront property                

     ~ Littering of beaches with plant fragments           

     ~ Snags fish lines and stunts fish life                

     ~ Chokes boat traffic lanes           

     ~ Makes swimming difficult & dangerous         

     ~ Tangles outboard motor propellers        

 

Water Quality Program: The GPLA is one of the few Lake Associations in the State to participate in both DES and U.N.H. voluntary water quality program.  Sampling is extensive, and averages 10 hours monthly effort.  Samples are taken from deep water spots and most of our tributaries, and tested for Turbidity, pH, Phosphorous, eColi, Transparency, and Conductivity. We also recently added a Cyanobacteria test to our UNH protocol. Shoreline readings of conductivity are taken twice a year in front of each property.        

 

Recent water quality results for Goose Pond remain good, but with trends that should be watched. Most notably, increased algae presence has diminished transparency. All the data collected is part of the important ongoing research by the DES and U.N.H. of NH water bodies with a goal of hoping to better understand the complex balance of both nature and man's impact on our lake. 

 

Questions on this program?  Contact President Michael Riese on the Contact page.        

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Internship: The Barney Internship was created to honor past President Dave Barney. Each summer one or two applicants for this program 

 

Roadside Clean-Up Program:  This is a volunteer lead program held twice a year, in the Spring and Fall, with the purpose being to keep Goose Pond and the roads surrounding it in as pristine condition as possible.