Alliance Report

Early morning hit and run on the big lake has the State Police asking for the public's assistance in providing leads.

Marathon swimmer Mike Welsch has been traversing the state's lakes. This past week he swam Ossipee Lake.

The warning was issued on June 22 after the state collected water samples at the head of the Ossipee River dam. Cyanobacteria are natural components of water bodies worldwide, but blooms and surface scums may form when excess nutrients are available to the water. Potential acute health effects include irritation of skin and mucous membranes, tingling, numbness, nausea, vomiting, seizures and diarrhea. No further blooms have been observed in this area at this time, according to the state.

There could be as many as four loon nests on Ossipee Lake this year, and a handful of volunteers from all points on the lake help keep them safe.

The dam gates are closed, the water level is rising, and black flies are back. It's almost summer.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which was signed by President Woodrow Wilson and protects more than 1,025 species. All other legislation pertinent to the safety of our native birds is amended to this important bill, which reflected the plight of avian life in those times. The Act ended the millinery trade, which was selling feathers from egrets and the like, making such ornamentation a societal no-no.

Ice-out was Saturday, April 21, at 9 p.m., according to Bob Smart, who enlisted seven observers from around the lake this year to help pinpoint the date. It's the fourth latest ice-out date since records have been kept for our lake. While Danforth Pond and other bodies of water in the area remain ice-covered, spring and warm temperatures are well on the way.

Thanks to the state and the work of volunteers in our three towns, there is constant progress being made to control invasive milfoil on the lake...but it's a never-ending battle. Each year the state writes a summary report detailing where our milfoil is located, and what is being done to control it. Everyone who lives on the lake or recreates here is encouraged to read the report in order to understand the challenge and the work being done to address it.

In a letter from Westward Shore's management, campers have been told that their trailer or RV must comply with the requirements of Ossipee's Floodplain Ordinance by October 20. The compliance requirement is of one of the outcomes of a settlement agreement that ended Freedom's lawsuit against Ossipee over the campground's planned expansion.

A new Ossipee Lake Alliance survey shows state spending to control milfoil almost doubled between 2012 and 2017, but was still less than one-third of the total cost. Lake communities and associations paid the rest.

Ossipee's town attorney told a Superior Court judge the Select Board is committed to developing a plan to prevent the kind of crowding that occurred at the November 28 special town meeting, at which some people were kept outside during the discussion. The court will consider the town's plan at a review hearing in August or September. The town attorney also said discussions to resolve legal issues between the town and Camp Sokokis seller Dianne Sheehan are proceeding, with responsibility for legal fees still on the table.