Volunteer association keeps Lake Winnisquam health top priority

TILTON — Almost 70 billion gallons of water fill Lake Winnisquam, and one nonprofit group is seeking public support to preserve and protect both the body of water and its watershed for years to come.

“Everyone loves to use the lake, but not everyone remembers it might not be this way forever,” said Kath Keen, vice president of the Winnisquam Watershed Network, in a phone interview. “Our lakes are so clean. It’s just amazing they get so much use and they stay so clean. It’s something we have to intentionally do.”

WWN, formed in 2017, is a mostly volunteer organization whose members take the health of the lake seriously. As the fiercest protector of the Winnisquam watershed in the Lakes Region, they run an abundance of programs to bolster their efforts.

Geared toward water quality monitoring, prevention and control of invasive species like milfoil, watershed management, wildlife monitoring, and education and advocacy, all programs benefit the preservation of the lake — in more ways than one.

“There’s so much that individuals can be doing to help in regard to their own properties and the lake,” she explained, referencing water monitoring and watershed management.

One of WWN’s largest fundraisers, the Lake Winnisquam Summer Social, is slated for 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Greenside Restaurant at Lochmere Country Club. It’s the hope of leadership that the event will sustain those lake preservation and protection programs for months to come.

Now in its fourth year, the social includes food from the kitchen of Chef David Fraser at Greenside Restaurant, a silent auction, a cash bar and live music. While there’s no set fundraising goal, all proceeds from the silent auction bolster the organization’s Lake Host and milfoil mitigation programs.

“It just goes into our pool of money. It helps boost our pot, basically,” Keen said.

Since education and camaraderie are another big focus of the organization, Keen explained how the WWN is a great starting point for individuals and residents passionate about the lake and its health, and how Saturday’s summer social is a great place to learn more.

“Anyone who loves the lake and loves to recreate on it ... and maybe meet some new lake neighbors is encouraged to attend,” Keen said. “I think the greatest reason to attend is to connect with neighbors around the lake, people who love Lake Winnisquam.”

It will be a lake-themed afternoon full of good times and good conversation, and Keen is excited.

“We found that so many people don’t socialize with each other on the lake. It’s a big lake, it covers five towns,” Keen said. “It’s fun stuff that’s all lakes oriented, that’s the really amazing part of our summer social.”

Lake Winnisquam's shores touch Laconia, Meredith, Sanbornton, Tilton and Belmont.

For more information or to register for the free Summer Social hosted by WWN, visit winnisquamwatershed.org.