Pawtuckaway Lake Association

The NH Center for Freshwater Biology Research has published a new research paper providing an assessment of plankton populations, toxic cyanobacteria, and the potential impact of introduced marine alewife on Pawtuckaway Lake. Since the State of NH Department of Fish and Game has been stocking Pawtuckaway Lake with marine alewife, many residents have wondered what the impact would be on the lake ecology. This new research paper by  Jessica V. Trout-Haney, Department of Zoology, University of New Hampshire, Durham provides scientific evidence of a link between the alewife and toxic cyanobacteria blooms on the lake.

Time is running out. As required by New Hampshire’s Boater Education Law, effective January 1, 2002, no person 16 years of age or older, may operate a powerboat with an engine in excess of 25 horsepower (including electric powered motors) on the public Waters of New Hampshire without a valid safe boating education certificate. All boaters must be in compliance by January 1, 2008. Due dates for compliance are based on age and only the most senior boaters still have some time before the deadline is up. If you haven't taken the course yet, chances are you are running out of time before boating season starts up again.

To help Nottingham residents become certified, the PLIA is sponsoring a Boating Safety course. The course will be conducted by the New Hampshire Department of Safety and is open to anyone.

Dear Members, Lake Residents, and Friends of Pawtuckaway Lake: The countdown to spring has begun and the officers of the PLIA have begun planning for the summer. We wanted to give you an update on some of the activities underway and hope you get involved and help out with one of these programs.

The NH Fish And Game Dept. are facing a funding crisis this year. A significant decline of fishing and hunting in NH has lowered the departments revenue from license fees. Rising health care costs for retired Fish and Game employees is a major factor in the budget shortfall. The department is seeking a variety of new funding sources from the State Legislature this February. One of the most controversal proposals is a yearly $10 conservation fee for all non-motorized boats including canoes, kayaks, and row boats.

54 lakes in New Hampshire are infested with exotic species of water weeds. All it takes is one piece of a weed stuck on a boat trailer to find its way into the lake and within a year or two the lake can be infested. The following photos are from lakes in New Hampshire, Maine, and the Mid-West that have become infested. Help the PLIA keep this from happening to our beautiful lake! Warning: This is a large article and will take awhile to open on a dial-up internet connection.

Charlie Soroko has been coming to Pawtuckaway Lake during the summer since 1932. In this interview, Charlie paints a picture of life on Pawtuckaway Lake in the early days.

The following is an interview of Celeste Schmitt, former Lake Host Program Coordinator for the Pawtuckaway Lake Association about a small group's determination to keep exotic weed infestations from killing our lake. Ater many years of service Celeste is retiring from this position.

The PLIA is currently seeking a replacement for Lake Host Program Coordinator. This would be a great position for a retiree, a parent with a teenager looking for a paid summer job on the lake, or anyone who would like to get involved with protecting our lake. For more information, please contact Donna Dannis, co-president of the PLIA at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Under the proposed "Boater Education Decal" legislation initiated by The New Hampshire Lakes Assocation (NHLA) and sponsored by Representative Chris Christensen, both in-state and out-of-state motorized vessels (including sailboats over 12 feet in length) will be required to display a boater education decal in addition to their boat registration number in order to legally operate in New Hampshire's inland public waters (tidal waters and ponds under 10 acres are excluded). The cost of the annual decal will be $20.00 for out-of-state boaters, $6.00 of which will be directed to the milfoil prevention and control program. In-state boaters will pay their decal fee when their boat is registered. The decal will be available for purchase through any agent already responsible for registering boats in NH (Safety Services, marinas, etc.).