Invasive species in the lake

[Lakegeezer]

The mussels and freshwater clams help clean the bottom and may be more of a clean water indicator than a problem. When the muck gets too thick, they disappear, unable to keep up with their janitorial duties.

Zebra mussels are a big threat, but so far the water chemistry of Winnipesaukee has kept them away. From what I remember of a water quality class, Winnipesaukee is more acidic than Lake Champlain, and doesn't allow the shell of calcium to grow on the Zebras. The threat is that they mutate and adapt to our waters.

Milfoil is indeed a scourge. Moultonborough allocates about $200,000 per year for removal. Residents are encouraged to send reports of milfoil to weedwatchers.moultonborough@gmail.com so that removal can be scheduled. Most is done with diver assisted suction harvester. In 2014, over 10,000 gallons of milfoil were removed from Moultonborough's waters.

There is a lot of concern about the impact of the milfoil chemical treatment, but not all is warranted. Chemicals are not used during the spawning period of the protected bridal shiner, because it kills the weeds that are used to hide the nests from predators. Impact on white perch would be news to me, but perhaps a similar scenario applies.

The chemicals are not the preferred method, but when faced with acres of milfoil to remove, it is cost effective.