State efforts work to keep Winnipesaukee healthy, but they can't do it alone

GILFORD — An invasive species known as the spiny water flea reached Lake Winnipesaukee in 2023, and the state Department of Environmental Services is doing everything they can to thwart its impact.

Unfortunately, there’s just no “good management” of them.

“You can’t really specifically target them like you can with these other plants. It’s easy with the plants, we can go diving or do a DASH: diver assisted harvesting. You can see the bottom here; it’s easier to go in and pinpoint where they are and just get rid of them that way,” said Georgia Bunnell, Clean Lakes program coordinator for DES. “But it’s harder with these animals that are freely moving.”

During a presentation at the Gilford Islands Association Summer Meeting late last month at Gilford Town Hall, Bunnell reminded residents