| The
Volunteer
Lake
Assessment
Program
is
a
water
sampling
program
to
assist
The
NH
Dept
of
Environmental
Services
in
evaluating
water
quality
throughout
the
state. |
| On Pine River Pond Barry
Fryer
is
the
coordinator.
He
relies
on
several
others
to
help
gather
the
samples
and
collect
the
data
needed
to
keep
our
water clean |
 |
|
As
you
can
see,
this
is
demanding
work. |
|
|
|
Each
month
in
the
summer
samples
are
taken
from
the
lake
at
different
depths
using
a
Kemmerer
bottle.
This
bottle
is
open
at
both
ends.
It
is
lowered
to
the
desired
depth
then
triggered
closed,
capturing
the
water
sample.
Other
samples
are
taken
from
streams
that
flow
into
the
lake.
The
samples
collected
are
then
driven
to
the
DES
in
Concord
for
testing.
A
report
is
generated
on
the
quality
of
our
lake
water.
This process allows us to become quickly aware of any
pollution.
Here
are
some
pictures
of
the testing
process. |
|
|
The
clarity
of
the
lake
is
measured
with
a
device
called
a
Secchi
disk.
It
is
lowered
into
the
water
until
it
disappears.
Then
the
distance
is
measured.
Our
lake
is
usually
in
the
5-6
meter
range. |
|
|
The
volunteers
are
always
on
the
alert
for
any
source
of
damage
to
the
lake
including
harmful
aquatic
plants
that
can
damage
its
fragile
ecosystem.
Their
skills
were
put
to
the
test
in
2002
when
a
source
of
pollution
was
discovered
coming
into
the
lake
from
a
nearby
stream.
|
With
the
involvement
of
the
NH
Department
of
Environmental
Services
and
the
help
of
the
NH
Department
of
Agriculture,
the
source
of
the
problem
was
identified
and
a
solution
was
implemented
to
stop
further
harm
to
our
lake.
A
report
was
published
in
a
NHDES
newsletter
praising
the
cooperation
of
all
those
involved
including
our
very
own
Lake
Assessment
Volunteers!
|
You
can
help
by
participating
in
the
"Weed
Watch"
program
and
reporting
any
sources
of
pollution
to
the
lake
to
the
proper
authorities
You
can
find
out
more
info
at
the
VLAP
web
site
located
here:
http://www.des.state.nh.us/wmb/vlap/ |
