More Trash than before?
 

Much to my dismay, my family and I don't get to the lake as often as we would like to, but since our trips are few and far between, we tend to notice the changes that you locals and more frequent visitors may not. Anyway, this summer, we have noticed a lot more trash along the highway between Alton and the Weirs. Cups, soda cans, cardboard and even garbage bags that have burst open seem to be strewn along the roadways. Has anyone else noticed this??

Jersey Girl

No I haven't noticed that but we usually go the the Weirs by boat..well...used to until I bit into a piece of glass that was in my french fries a few weeks back while having lunch at a restaurant at the top of the hill! (called NH Health Dept and reported it too btw). One thing I have noticed is that for the number of boats that invade these beautiful waters on weekends the garbage on the lake is low! I think the only things we've pulled out of the lake this year are a boat seat, a soda can and a small square of foam. Not too bad if you think about the boat to lake ratio! Hopefully this is due to people who really care about the lake and make a concerted effort to pick up anything that's gone overboard :)

Over the week we spent on the lake - the only things we managed to pull out were a coffee cup, a squirt gun and a life preserver. Unfortunately didn't manage to pull out my laminated chart which went overboard - watched it seesaw out of sight as I unloaded my pockets and kicked off my shoes. Guess it was time to get Bizer's 6th edition anyway.

NH is pristine compared to other places
 

We have been visiting the Lakes area for the 15 years and have boating on the lake for 5 years. We visit the lake every weekend. Our main reason for boating on the lake is because of the cleanliness of the lake. Ever try swimming in the ocean..especially after a rainfall? The ocean (in RI at least), although beautiful to look at, has had its share of problems--sewage, constant beach closings due to high bacteria levels, boats dumping "everything" overboard, etc. The other reason we LOVE the lakes area is because of the cleanliness of the area (& the entire state for that matter). When we leave NH every Sunday we always can tell when we are home because of all the garbage on the RI highways..it is gross!!

If you are noticing more garbage it is probably from the tourists..we have seen this many times..outsiders at the lake/beach throwing their candy wrappers and empty soda bottles on the sand, not picking up after themselves or their children.

The message to people visiting this lovely state is to keep NH clean!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captn'J The message to people visiting this lovely state is to keep NH clean!

HERE! HERE! Let's rent a plane and have them fly this banner all over the state. I Love what you said.

Not only keep NH clean, but all of us should want to keep our state, street, yard, neighborhood clean too. Take 2 minutes everyday to pick up carelessly discarded trash and you will notice a change in the area around you and how this effects your neighbors and how it makes you and people around you feel good. You begin to see a feeling of pride grow when a neighborhood takes just 2 minutes to care.

It's far too easy to just say "the heck with it", the other guy doesn't care why should I - and if we all think that way we'll be living in a trash dump. People are moved and motivated by other people’s actions - so if just 1 person does something good to motivate another - you'll both see the great results and the way it will spread to others. Seriously - JUST TRY IT for a month and see what happens. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_201.gif

My observation has been that people are pretty respectful of the lake.The only trash I've seen is mostly items that have been accidentally blown out of boats.The only exception to that is the ice fishermen.Our road is 3/4 mile from a landing that they use each winter to launch the bobhouses.There is rarely a bottle or can on that entire stretch of road durring the other three seasons,but every year,just after the snow has melted, we pick up 4 full trash bags of assorted beer cans and bottles (mostly Bud).I've also been told by a friend that dives,that he has seen pyramids of beer cans under popular ice fishing spots.

How did the subject get to the lake
 

Some how the subject got twisted around in this site and went all to the lake. Jersey Girl, I too notice the side of the roads with more trash and I also notice or I should say the lack of noticing highway people cleaning the sides of the highway. Guess the costs have gone to high and our keep the state clean isn't getting to the people. :(

I love New Hampshire too and try to leave it as pristine as I find it when I arrive. That being said I wonder if the amount of rain fall may have something to do with the roadside trash. Friday afternoon when it really came down I noticed the raging rivers flowing by the roadside. Some of them were almost deep enough and wide enough to float a small boat in.

Sadly back in Jersey

Alex
Lake Hopatcong, NJ