Lake Host Stops Invasive from Entering Newfound
An invasive plant was headed for Newfound Lake. Thanks to the Lake Host program, it never made it.
At a recent shift at the Wellington State Park boat ramp, Lake Host Aidan Nolan spotted aquatic vegetation tangled on a boat and trailer arriving from another New Hampshire waterbody. Aidan suspected the plant might be invasive. He carefully removed it from the boat and brought it in for identification. Conservation Program Manager Paul Pellissier rehydrated the dried-up plant to get a better look at its structure. Sure enough, it appeared to be fanwort, an invasive aquatic plant. The identification was later confirmed by our partners at NH LAKES and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
Thanks to the Lake Host program, in partnership with NH LAKES and Aidan's careful eye, an invasive plant was stopped before it could enter Newfound Lake.
Prevention makes a difference
Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to the health of New Hampshire's lakes. Once an invasive plant becomes established, it can spread rapidly, compete with native vegetation, interfere with recreation, and be extremely difficult and expensive to control.
Keeping invasive plants out in the first place is far more effective than trying to manage an infestation after it begins. This is what makes the Lake Host Program so important. Lake Hosts are trained to inspect boats, trailers, and gear for plants and animals that could be transported from one waterbody to another. They also talk with boaters about how they can help prevent the spread of invasive species be cleaning, draining, and drying their boat and recreational gear.
Newfound Lake remains free of invasive aquatic plants, and we work hard to keep it that way. The discovery also shows why every boat inspection matters. Aquatic plants can be small, dried out, and easy to miss. A few minutes spent looking carefully before launching can prevent an invasive species from spreading in a new lake.
More than 20 years of protecting Newfound
NLRA has partnered with NH LAKES on the Lake Host Program since it began in 2002. For more than two decades, Lake Hosts at Newfound Lake have helped educate boaters and inspect watercraft at public boat launches.
The program has become a familiar part of visiting Newfound Lake. Many returning boaters expect to see a Lake Host when they arrive, and that familiarity creates opportunities for ongoing conversations about how everyone can help protect the lake. Boater outreach and inspections matter because Newfound welcomes boaters from across New Hampshire and beyond. This means watercraft arriving here may have recently been on another lake or pond, and every incoming boat is a potential pathway for invasive species. The fanwort found on an incoming boat at Wellington State Park is a reminder that this isn't an abstract threat. This time, a Lake Host stopped it.
Boaters Can Protect our Lakes
Whether you're heading to Newfound Lake or leaving for another waterbody, make Clean, Drain, Dry part of every boating trip:
- Clean all plants, animals, and mud from your boat, trailer, and gear.
- Drain all water from your boat and equipment.
- Dry everything thoroughly before visiting another waterbody.
A few extra minutes of care can make an enormous difference. And if you find something you're not sure about, don't assume it's harmless. The fanwort interception is a great example of what happens when education and careful attention come together.