Lake Kanasatka Watershed Association

Concord, NH- The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) has REMOVED a cyanobacteria advisory for Lake Kanasatka that was issued on 8/29/2022. While the bloom accumulation has dissipated, NHDES advises that lake-goers look out for green surface accumulations in the future. Please continue to monitor your individual shoreline for changing conditions. This advisory was not based on a toxin evaluation and was intended as a precautionary measure for short term exposure. Cyanobacteria are natural components of water bodies worldwide, though blooms and surface scums may form when excess nutrients are available to the water. Some cyanobacteria produce toxins that are stored within the cells and released upon cell death. Toxins can cause both acute and chronic health effects that range in severity. Acute health effects include irritation of skin and mucous membranes, tingling, numbness, nausea, vomiting, seizures and diarrhea. Chronic effects may include liver and central nervous system damage. Be cautious of lake water that has a surface scum, changes colors, or appears to have green streaks or blue-green flecks aggregating along the shore. The advisory went into effect on August 29, 2022 and was removed on November 16, 2022. Visit the NHDES Harmful Algal and Cyanobacteria Bloom Program website for photos and [...]

Lake Kanasatka was resampled today, 10/20/2022. The cyanobacteria density has decreased from last week, the highest sample was from Glidden Road, with total density of 45,900 cells/mL of Dolichospermum and Aphanizomenon. The Kilnwood sample total was 9,034 cells/mL of Dolichospermum, Aphanizomenon and Woronichinia. The dam sample had a total of 14,566 cells/mL of Dolichospermum and Aphanizomenon. This is a huge improvement from densities observed last week, but considering the fluctuations we've observed, and the continued heightened density, I think we should wait for another sampling event prior to lifting this advisory. Unfortunately I will be at a conference all next week, so we won't be able to review another set of samples until the first week in November. If samples continue to have low density after another round of sampling there will be greater confidence that the event has passed. For now, please keep signs posted at public access points. If people ask for updates on the current cyanobacteria advisory status, please direct them to the Beach Advisories Mapper. If you click on the advisory symbol, you can see our most recent sampling date. When advisories are lifted, the red symbol for the waterbody will no longer be on the map. Please forward to other [...]