2020 Newsletter:

LAKE TARLETON ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER AUGUST, 2020
 
Greetings to all members and friends of Lake Tarleton.
       I hope you are all safe and managing the new world in which we find ourselves.  It is certainly a very different summer.  
       The purpose of our association remains the same:
Purpose:  The Lake Tarleton Association, Inc. is a non-profit corporation organized for the purpose of preserving the quality of the environment of Lake Tarleton and its surrounding land; of promoting the enjoyment of the Lake for recreation, rest and relaxation; and of encouraging good feeling among those who enjoy the beauty of the Lake area.
       Despite the pandemic we do have a Lake Host program.  Lake Hosts were designated as essential workers by the governor.
       As you might know Kingswood Camp did not open this summer, which was difficult for the Wipflers and all their campers.  Camp Walt Whitman also canceled their season.
       Activity on the lake is quite reduced although we still see many fisherman and kayakers.  We are continuing to test the lake water but this year will only test in June and August due to personnel reduction at the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program..
       Our loon chick, only one this year, hatched on or about July 1 and is still doing well.  We have seen herons, osprey, eagles, and Canada geese on the lake among others and deer, skunks and raccoons on shore.  There is no shortage of wildlife and they are not bothered by the Covid 19 virus.
       As you can imagine, with the arrival of very hot weather, the Lake Tarleton State Park and Beach has been very popular. Visitors have been very considerate and there has been virtually no litter to speak of although other state parks have not fared as well.  We appreciate our thoughtful guests.
       At last year’s association annual meeting we set a meeting date of August 23, 2020 at 10:00 for this year.  Sue Ryan had offered to host the meeting at her cottage, but given the situation that does not seem sensible.  One option that I think we will try is to hold an outdoor meeting on the same day and time.  Recently members of the White Mountain Fire Rangers met on the State Park land.  There is plenty of room.  We would all bring lawn chairs and spread out.  We do need to hold elections and address any other business.
       I am hoping you will continue to support the association with your dues.  At present dues continue at $20 per individual and $50 for a family.  Naturally donations are always greatly appreciated.  Our dues are used exclusively to fund the Lake Host program and to join the Loon Preservation Committee.
       Dues can be sent to our treasurer, Peter Ascher, at P.O. Box 5, Piermont, NH 03779 or for tax deductible status they can be sent directly to New Hampshire Lakes, 17 Chenell Drive, Suite One, Concord, NH 03301-8539 or on-line at www.nhlakes.org with a notation to apply it to Lake Tarleton.
       Please stay safe and enjoy our lake.  Send me your thoughts about a meeting and let me know of other issues you have.  Every day those of us who live on or near the lake are grateful that, despite the challenges facing us all, we live in an absolutely beautiful place.
Thank you,
Joyce Tompkins, President Lake Tarleton Association
Joyce.e.tompkins@gmail.com
907 Route 25C, Piermont, NH 03779
PS I am attaching our minutes (draft)from last year’s meeting
     




If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Lake Tarleton Association's Lake Host payroll to help keep the lake free from invasive species, please click here for the individual donation form: nhlakes.org/resources-publications/association-services/lake-host-charitable-giving/
     Upon donating, please email Peter Ascher at paaasi@aol.com so that he can follow up and make sure all funds are allocated to our Lake Host program. 
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Update: May 15, 2014
The following article is taken from the May 7 edition of US News and World Report and showcases an invasive species our Lake Hosts have been watching for- "Rock Snot":  

Researchers Trace 'Rock Snot' to Native Species
The algae, which threatens salmon and trout, may arise from global warming, Dartmouth and Environment Canada researchers say.

The freshwater algae known as "rock snot" grows on river bottoms worldwide.

Researchers from Canada and Dartmouth University have found that rock snot – a globulous bloom of algae that blossoms in some freshwater riverbeds – more likely stems from changing environmental conditions and global warming, rather than the accidental introduction of new species or the emergence of new genetic strains, as has been previously theorized. 

Algae known as "rock snot" or "didymo" covers a freshwater river bottom.
The findings have real implications: The algae, officially known as Didymosphenia geminate, or “didymo” for short, poses a threat to salmon and trout by affecting the insects the fish eat. Groups have sought to clear the growths through multimillion dollar eradication efforts that harness chemicals and fishing restrictions, but the Dartmouth findings suggest that the solution may in fact lie in mitigating other environmental factors.

“Correctly identifying an invasive species as either native or nonnative is important for developing sound policy, management and scientific research programs because effective responses depend on knowing whether the species' dominance is caused by ecological or evolutionary novelty, changes in environmental conditions that facilitate it, or both," Professor Brad Taylor, the study's lead author, said in a statement.

Rock snot blooms have been recorded as long as a century ago, yet “this information was either ignored or the idea of a new genetic strain was adopted,” Taylor said.

Algal blooms are often caused by excessive levels of phosphorous or other nutrients in freshwater, yet rock snot actually appears when the amount of phosphorous is low.

Here’s why: Didymo lives on the river bottom and draws its nutrients from the water above. When those nutrients are rare, the didymo produces long stalks that push higher into the water. The stalks then cause thick mats to cover the river bottom.

“The idea that low phosphorus can cause an algal bloom is hard for people to accept because we are all taught that more nutrients equal more algae,” Taylor said.

The freshwater algae known as "rock snot" grows on river bottoms worldwide.

Update: April 24, 2014

ICE OUT! 

The official ice out was the evening of April 23. The next morning the Warren Fish Hatchery was already out at the lake stocking it with 1000 fish! 700 rainbow trout and 300 brown trout were released into Tarleton. 

Thanks to Robin Ascher for the pictures and for being there to document it! 

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Some very important news from Charley Muntz, regarding the discovery of the Chinese Mystery Snail at Lake Tarleton: 

Our Paid Lake Host observed Chinese Mystery Snails near the boat launch during the summer of 2013. He spent time digging in the sand along the shore on non-busy days and found a total of six or seven snail shells, four of which were alive. This was over about a 200 foot stretch of shoreline, including in the water, the depth of which ranged from an inch to 2 1/2 feet.

         The four live snails were submitted to NH Department of Environmental Services.  Amy Smagula, DES manager of exotic species, confirmed that the specimens were indeed Chinese Mystery Snails.

         According to DES and NH Lakes, there are no specific control methods for the Chinese Mystery Snail being recommended or practiced in New Hampshire’s lakes.  Of course, the best type of control is prevention through the “Clean, Drain, and Dry” approach currently advocated by the Lake Host program, and not dumping bait buckets, aquariums, and the like into water bodies.

         In our case, preventing the further spread of the snail is a priority. If Chinese Mystery Snails are found, they can be hand removed and composted in an upland, enclosed location.
~Charley Muntz, 2/26/14


One of my all-time favorite pictures of Mt. Moosilauke, taken from the shoreline of Lake Tarleton, January 2014.

For more information on the Chinese Mystery Snail the following links are provided:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mystery_snail

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=1045

http://rule-303.blogspot.com/2012/06/one-at-time-how-you-will-stop-chinese.html