WHO WE ARE

The Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Patrol is a group of volunteers who monitor Conway Lake in canoes, kayaks, on paddle boards, or even while swimming/ snorkeling, checking for the presence of invasive plants and animals.

 

WHY WE VOLUNTEER

Invasive aquatic plants pose significant threats to lakes due to their ability to disrupt lake ecosystems, deplete oxygen levels, hinder native plant growth, and create hazardous conditions for recreational activities such as boating and swimming. The removal of these plants is challenging and expensive requiring mechanical removal, and/or chemical treatments like herbicides that may have ecological consequences.

 

Invasive species are primarily introduced to a lake by "hitching" a ride on boats and recreational gear.  CLCA's first priority is to keep them out of the lake by encouraging boaters to clean and drain their boats, and to check all boats that enter the lake to spot fragments attached to boats before they launch.  If they should make it into the lake then  early detection is critical.  Once introduced, invasive species grow vigorously and spread rapidly (see photos below).  The sooner we spot them, the sooner we can begin remediation and stop their spread.  This is the primary mission of the AIS Patrol.

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WHAT WE DO

Our goal is to collectively patrol the entire shoreline of Conway Lake twice a month for the duration of the growing season, usually July through September. Our volunteers are the "eyes" of Conway Lake and the more volunteers we have to monitor its 21 miles of shoreline, the less likely an invasive species will have a chance to become established.

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We also monitor the lake for Cyanobacteria.  These microorganisms can produce neurotoxins, and under the right conditions can multiply rapidly creating blooms that can be a health hazard to humans, pets, and wildlife. This past year (2024) was the fifth year in a row that NH lakes have set a record for the number toxic cyanobacteria warnings.  Want to learn more about this risk? Tap the Cyanobacteria link to the left.

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For more information on cyanobacteria check out the following:

1. To watch an excellent presentation on cyanobacteria in New Hampshire watch this webinar by Kate Hastings from the NH DES: click here.

2. To see active cyanobacteria advisories, alerts and warnings for NH lakes click here. 

3. To report a bloom to the NH DES follow this link.

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JOIN THE AIS PATROL

We need your help!  We welcome anyone who wants to join us and to help protect Conway Lake. You don’t need prior experience or knowledge. We will show you how we patrol and what to look for. We will also give you guides to help you identify the plants and animals in the lake. It’s a fun and rewarding way to enjoy the beauty of Conway Lake while playing an important role in keeping it healthy. To learn more about our training process, please click the Training Overview link on the left. 

 

You can also learn more about us on the AIS Patrol Blog:  

(www.conwaylake.org/ais blog)  The Blog is where we post the results of our patrols on the lake and where you can find detailed descriptions of native and invasive species, and helpful reference guides.

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To join or if you would like more information please contact either: 

Maria Gross: maria.m.gross@gmail.com

603-491-3107 (cell) or 603-447-6068 (home)

or 

Don Yurewicz:  don.yurewicz@gmail.com

713 253-1211 (cell)