Learn About Your lakes
The Milton Conservation Commission (MCC) and Three Ponds Protective Association (TPPA) are teaming up to provide educational materials to Milton residents about taking care of our lakes, our most precious natural resource and the engine of our town economy. Below are links to several short, interesting and fun videos on crucial topics for protecting lake water quality, produced by state environmental and health departments. We also are pleased to provide an informational sheet about boating safety, links to the latest TPPA newsletters, and a video by local expert Professor James Haney featuring in-depth information about cyanobacteria. In addition, we offer specific resources for shore land homeowners about best practices in caring for their lake shore property to keep our lake water clean.
Short Videos
Click on the link above, then on the 'videos' menu button, then choose one of the first two recommended short videos:
· Clean, Drain, and Dry to prevent the spread of invasive species! (5 minutes)
· Tips for Lake-Friendly Boating (just under 4 minutes)
NH Department of Environmental Services:
· Climate Change: What does it mean for New Hampshire? (just over 9 minutes)
· The Importance of Rain Gardens (just over 2 minutes)
· How Do I Build a Rain Garden? (6 minutes)
· Protecting New Hampshire's Wetlands (5½ minutes)
Vermont Department of Health:
· Know What Grows in Our Lakes: How to Identify Cyanobacteria (about 2½ minutes)
If you identify cyanobacteria in NH, please immediately notify NH DES. Call the Beaches/Cyanobacteria Hotline at (603) 848-8094 or email beaches@des.gov and they will arrange a site visit. If able, collect a sample (wear gloves!) in a clean plastic or glass container and bring it to NHDES.
Short Videos
Click on the link above, then on the 'videos' menu button, then choose one of the first two recommended short videos:
· Clean, Drain, and Dry to prevent the spread of invasive species! (5 minutes)
· Tips for Lake-Friendly Boating (just under 4 minutes)
NH Department of Environmental Services:
· Climate Change: What does it mean for New Hampshire? (just over 9 minutes)
· The Importance of Rain Gardens (just over 2 minutes)
· How Do I Build a Rain Garden? (6 minutes)
· Protecting New Hampshire's Wetlands (5½ minutes)
Vermont Department of Health:
· Know What Grows in Our Lakes: How to Identify Cyanobacteria (about 2½ minutes)
If you identify cyanobacteria in NH, please immediately notify NH DES. Call the Beaches/Cyanobacteria Hotline at (603) 848-8094 or email beaches@des.gov and they will arrange a site visit. If able, collect a sample (wear gloves!) in a clean plastic or glass container and bring it to NHDES.
Other Resources
Toxic Cyanobacteria and Lake Monitoring in the 21st Century A webinar by Professor James Haney. Click to view the in-depth educational video of Professor Haney giving a 35-minute powerpoint presentation about his current research on toxic blue-green algae. Note that the automatic text translation running underneath the page contains errors and should be ignored.
New Hampshire's Changing Climate and Changing Lakes Our climate in New Hampshire is changing. To find out what this means for our water resources and our lakes, watch this 1-hour powerpoint presentation offered by NH Lakes last December, 2020.
Navigation Safety and Shoreline Protection on Milton Three Ponds – A handout created by Milton resident Humphrey Williams. Read below or download the 3-page PDF file, which includes a map of the channel and buoy locations in the Milton Three Ponds.
Photo Credit: Steve Baker
Tppa newsletters
Click here to read recent or past newsletters with information about invasive plant mitigation work, boat inspections, photos of local loons and more. You can also sign up to get TPPA's free newsletter sent to your email inbox.
for lake shore homeowners
NH Lake Smart Program – What happens on your property affects the lake! Take a self assessment of your property, implement lake-friendly living practices, then submit follow-up photos or request a site visit from a Lake Smart trained evaluator to earn the coveted LakeSmart Award yard signs
NH Homeowner's Guide to Stormwater Management – an invaluable and comprehensive guide from DES on best practices in reducing runoff from your shore land property.
DIY Fact Sheets - scroll through the page to find the appropriate DES fact sheets for your situation.
Conservation Practices for Homeowners – scroll down the page for this Fact Sheet Series as well as a Buffer Handbook and Buffer Plant list from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
Questions? Want help identifying erosion areas on your property? Get advice or ask for a site visit from Wayne Sylvester, MCC member and Vice President of TPPA. Call him at (603) 652-3493 (H) or (603) 686-9032 (C) or email wsly7.sylvester@aol.com.
Photo credit, clockwise From Left: Steve Baker, Rebecca Gagne, Mikey Brandmeyer, Jen King, Jen King, Rebecca Gagne
