First Cyanobacteria Warnings of 2024 Issued for Lake Winnipesaukee

[tis]

It must be a wonderful clover year because it has taken over most of my lawn this year. I have been wondering why.

[Descant]

Grant makes good points about runoff. Fertilizer or not, grass still has runoff resulting in silt flowing into the lake too. Lowbush blueberry has a better root structure, Geese don't like it and it doesn't need to be mowed. Here's one source: https://turfinstaller.net/sod-turf-p...ry-native-sod/
And, I understand grass muffins and pies require a lot of chewing unless you're a goose.

[Grant]

Originally Posted by Descant

Grant makes good points about runoff. Fertilizer or not, grass still has runoff resulting in silt flowing into the lake too. Lowbush blueberry has a better root structure, Geese don't like it and it doesn't need to be mowed. Here's one source: https://turfinstaller.net/sod-turf-p...ry-native-sod/
And, I understand grass muffins and pies require a lot of chewing unless you're a goose.

I was gonna say, "Don't get me started on the geese," but now that you mention it...

Geese LOVE grass. Need some validation of this claim? Drive through Meredith on any given day and note where the geese are. On the grass. Although the damn things never showed up in any real numbers before, say, 2011 or 2012, we NEVER had them on the property -- with 200+ feet of shoreline. Why? It was all rocks and native shrubs. Nothing to eat here...nowhere to graze or spawn/raise our young, so move on.

Now consider this: ONE adult Canada goose craps out TWO POUNDS (minimum) of those nasty green tootsie roll logs per day. And they do it about every 12 minutes...just to spread the love. This stuff is PURE nutrient for cyanobacteria. Multiply those 2+ pounds by the (growing) number of geese on the lake, and you get the picture. They destroy lakes for a living...I've seen it first-hand in Pennsylvania over the years. So, while many folks thinks they're "adorable" and "majestic," they are truly a menace. If you see them on your property, shoo them away. They multiply like rats and rabbits and poop like it's their job.

And, for the record, they do NOT taste good.

[Grant]

The Lake Winnipesaukee Association, which posts regularly on the forum now, is a fantastic resource for learning about the things that impact water quality. They also publish the water quality and cyanobacteria map updates: https://www.winnipesaukee.org/winni-...obacteria-map/

Also --

• Learn about nutrients and their role in lake health: https://www.winnipesaukee.org/the-issues/nutrients/
  
• See how stormwater runoff accounts for 85-90% of the pollution in the lake: https://www.winnipesaukee.org/the-is...mwater-runoff/
  
• Want to know the impact of aging septic systems? - https://www.winnipesaukee.org/the-is...eptic-systems/
  
• Want to speak up on behalf of the lake? - https://www.winnipesaukee.org/take-action/

And check out the Winni Blue and LakeSmart programs!

[dickiej]

……or, you could rip out your lawn and put in rock gardens….lawns are a terrible waste and contribute to the pollution in the lake. They should be outlawed anywhere near the lake.

[SAB1]

If the Cyanobacteria only killed the geese…..

[Grant]

Originally Posted by SAB1

If the Cyanobacteria only killed the geese…..

Would that be akin to a semi-circular firing squad?