The story of my life at Lake Kanasatka is tied to my husband’s teen years when he spent his summers on Lake Winnipesaukee at the Long Island Campground off Neck Road. We met when we were in our 20s, and he took me to the Big Lake to spend a weekend with The Parents. The magnitude of this waterbody took my breath and my heart at once. Fortunately for me, The Parents also gave me the thumbs up.

Fast forward five years: With twin sons in tow, we began our frequent four-hour treks north from our home in Connecticut, seeking rest and rejuvenation in the Lakes Region. Every year, we sat at the end of the dock, dangling our bare feet in the cool clear water and we spoke of our desire to find a small place of our own. It took 10 years, but in April 2002 we found it: A small cottage in the Sandy Cove section of Lake Kanasatka. Standing on the waterfront, we could see the old red bait shop on Route 25. Our lot was overgrown, but we caught a glimpse of a patch of beach sand leading into clear, blue water. There was a rusty shower in the tiny bathroom, but the large stone-faced fireplace in the living room grabbed our attention. We looked at one another and smiled, then told our agent: We’ll take it.

For nearly 20 years, we escaped to what we referred to as “our little slice of heaven” and spent most of our time on the tiny screen porch, where we faced the lake and the majestic Red Hill. Every time we left the lake, I felt like I was leaving a piece of myself behind. What I remember best of those years were the call of the loons during the night, the early morning fishermen who braved the lake’s challenging boat launch to seek the Big Fish, and the neighboring children who splashed every summer with unabashed joy. Life was idyllic, and we knew this was where we wanted to spend the rest of our lives.

So, as we neared retirement in 2021, we built a permanent lake house on the site of our cottage, moving from Connecticut to become Moultonborough residents. The previous year, cyanobacteria blooms had turned our lake green, and we knew there was a serious problem. We had been members of LKWA for several years and attended many of the annual meetings. Water testing has been conducted for decades, and the warning signs were on the horizon.

We educated ourselves about cyanobacteria and how to best manage stormwater run-off on our property and on our private road. Over the past two years, we planted a waterfront buffer, added water bars to divert water away from the lake, and eliminated any bare spots on our property. LKWA’s website https://kanasatka.org/ and Facebook page provide a great deal of recommendations and best management practices. In October, we were notified by NH Lakes that our property met the conditions to be Lake Smart https://nhlakes.org/lakesmart/ .

As Treasurer of LKWA since July, I can tell you in all honesty that the Board of Directors has a clear and coordinated plan to address the cyanobacteria blooms that continue to erupt in our lake. However, we need the help of every person who uses the lake! We have taken the following actions:

• conducting a Capital Campaign to raise $350,000 toward an alum treatment this year;

• planning a Barn Sale in May 2024 as a fundraiser – donations are welcome; and

• coordinating efforts to assist property owners with stormwater issues through the LKWA Boots on the Ground group that formed in 2023.

Anyone needing guidance can contact us via email at [email protected].