Hi All,

Harrison called late yesterday; bad news, S. Cove nest was apparently attacked by something, egg is broken and no loons sitting!

Maybe next year,

Dick

By David Eastman, Country Ecology 

When visiting the Loon Preservation Committee’s headquarters in Moultonborough, you might notice a new informational placard in their meeting room where videos are shown daily to audiences. Necropsies from dead loons in the past have previously shown some disturbing evidence about toxic contaminants spreading from chemicals into the ecosystem. These reach into water bodies and then become part of the loons’ physical life in eggs and feathers, following concentrations in fishy prey. The chemical properties of many environmental contaminants cause them to accumulate in loons’ body fat and egg contents. In 2005, the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) recorded a dramatic single-year decline of seven pairs of loons on Squam Lake (from 16 pairs in 2004 to nine pairs in 2005). A single year decline of this magnitude (44 percent) is unprecedented in LPC’s years of state-wide efforts, and brought loons to their lowest numbers ever recorded on Squam. This was shocking information; after all we have felt so good about recovery efforts for the “great Northern diver,” as the common loon has been called. We had comfortably gotten used to repeated improvement for the species, therefore holding the line for New Hampshire’s loon population over the 34 years of LPC’s monitoring. We slowly had regained lakes left vacant by historic declines, up to 247 pairs in 2008, with 160 of those pairs nesting. But, breeding success last season was especially low on the state’s biggest lakes: Squam, Umbagog, and Winnipesaukee. Only four chicks survived on Lake Winnipesaukee, two on Squam, and one on Umbagog in 2008. State-wide, reproductive success was only 0.39 chicks per territorial loon pair. For the past three years, the combined documented numbers have been below the rate required to sustain a stable population. To investigate the possibility that this upsetting decline was caused in part by the impact of environmental contaminants on the health of the loons, LPC tested the contents of 13 in viable loon eggs from Squam and other New Hampshire lakes in 2007 and 2008 to quantify the amount and types of contaminants present. This can be quite extensive at the close of the birds’ reproductive season, even stinky in its work, but clinics such as Tufts University’s are utilized by this institution to pursue these scientific results with considerable intensity. Eggs that didn’t hatch were gathered up by environmental interns, called “loon rangers” from various colleges who fl oat around during summers, monitoring nesting sites. In an industrialized society like ours, a wide variety of chemicals are released into the environment every-day from residential, commercial, and industrial sources. Of particular concern are chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants. These chemicals do not breakdown in the environment, and therefore can bioaccumulate through the food web and pose significant health threats to wildlife. Examples of persistent organic pollutants listed on this new poster at the LPC include: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Poly-brominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), Polychlorinated Dibenzop Dioxins (PCDD), Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDF), and Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS). Whew, glad I don’t have to pronounce such names. These effects can come from fl ame retardants or stain preventing chemicals in our household furnishings and upholstery. So, in the future, loon biologists will test liver samples for contaminants that are known from egg samples to date, or suspected (from literature) to occur in loons. And then, identify potential sources of contaminants in the watershed. It seems the reason these things unfortunately don’t break down in the environment in that they are synthetic in their ori-gins. PBDEs etc. Are probably coming from point sources or aerial deposition into our waters. The Loon Preservation Committee plans to expand this year’s monitoring to look for late-season mortality of loons. It will collect data on a wide range of stressing factors, including boating, angling, precipitation and weather events, fish populations, and predators. These analyzed results will be integrated into a systems dynamic model. This model will determine the relative contributions of a wide range of possible stressors on the mortality and reproductive failure of loons on Squam Lake. Then, LPC intends to report these results to the public and to New Hampshire’s legislators through articles, educational presentations, and meetings. Eventually, the Loon Center’s people will expand sampling of in viable loon eggs and carcasses state-wide to determine the extent and severity of contaminants affecting loons in New Hampshire. Already, the Squam Lake Loon Study has provided invaluable baseline data on contaminants and other environ-mental stressors on loons. Impressively, in the center of this new poster are various bar graphs from other bird species’ research such as terns, herring gulls, wood ducks, and ospreys that vividly show problems that result from ingestion of these chemicals on their behavior and otherwise. While much of this research is preliminary and fast moving, it reveals some disturbing effects we should begin to worry about at this point in time for waterfowl and aquatic species.

Dave Eastman also broadcasts “Country Ecology” four times weekly over WMWV 93.5 fm. As Vice President of the Lakes Region Chapter/ASNH, he welcomes you to monthly programs at the Loon Center in Moultonborough. He is available at: www.countryecology.com  for consultation.

To learn more about the Loon Preservation Committee, become a member, or make a donation to help save the loons click here.

By MICHAEL COUSINEAU
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Sunday, Jun. 28, 2009

Recent rainy weather has fueled the growth of a bacteria that researchers suspect could cause “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” and has required the state to post more warnings on the state’s lakes and ponds this year.

But the state has an extensive system to test many of the its 950 lakes and ponds, and residents and tourists alike shouldn’t fear going into the water, according to Jody Connor, a limnologist with the state Department of Environmental Services.

“I think we’ll find New Hampshire waters are very safe to swim in, and among the clearest in the United States,” Connor said.

The New Hampshire Sunday News reported this month that researchers found the risk of developing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a fatal neurodegenerative disease known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS, was 25 times higher than the norm for residents near Macoma Lake in Enfield.

Doctors and scientists at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon say there is strong evidence that cyanobacteria — single-celled organisms that form on lakes and ponds, and release harmful toxins — might be a trigger for the development of ALS.

This month, the state has issued warnings about high levels of cyanobacteria for six lakes and ponds, though only one remains in effect, for Willand Pond in Dover and Somersworth.

“Typically, we don’t have a lot of cyanobacteria problems until late July or early August,” Connor said, noting June usually has only one warning. “I think the weather has a lot to do with it. What’s causing the cyanobacteria cells to increase is the phosphorous that’s coming from the water shed. It could be from fertilizers. It could be road runoff.”

Extensive monitoring

Cheryl Keeler of Merrimack said she grew up in Enfield Center and swam in Mascoma Lake 30 or 35 years ago before she read the recent news of the increased ALS levels.

“When I saw it, it made my heart drop,” she said.

Last year, her brother-in-law, Charles Keeler, died of ALS, and she wonders whether his death was tied to swimming in New Hampshire lakes, including Mascoma. Still, she plans to go camping soon along White Lake. “That won’t stop us, unless there’s something posted as warnings,” she said. “I don’t think it will hurt tourism.”

James Haney, who heads the University of New Hampshire Center for Freshwater Biology and has studied cyanobacteria for 15 years, said New Hampshire, unlike many other states, has a system in place to respond to cyanobacteria blooms, or concentrations.

“I would send people to New Hampshire first of all because they’re better protected here than elsewhere,” he said.

Haney and his team are using a sophisticated detector to measure cyanobacteria levels. They flash a green light at suspected areas and can confirm whether the bacteria is present if a red glow appears, he said.

Earlier this month, Haney said Willand Pond “looked pretty good” on the surface.

But below the water line, concentrations “were extremely high, even though you couldn’t see it,” Haney said. “There was a danger lurking below the surface.” New testing Friday revealed the high levels had shifted from the pond’s south side to its north end, he said.

In a lake with high concentrations of cyanobacteria, “the greatest danger is if you ingest it,” he said. “Touching the water is probably unlikely to cause any serious problem.”

Warnings issued

So far this month, the state has issued warnings, now expired, for high levels of cyanobacteria for Mascoma Lake, Locke Lake in Barnstead, Harvey Lake in Northwood, Goose Pond in Canaan, and Lake Monomonac in Rindge and Winchendon, Mass.

Cyanobacteria warnings

Six ponds and lakes have been under a cyanobacteria warning this month. The state discontinued all but one, for Willand Pond.

Source: N.H. Department of Environmental Services
MICHAEL COUSINEAU/SUNDAY NEWS

“Toxins can cause both acute and chronic health effects ranging in severity from skin and mucous membrane irritations, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea to liver and central nervous system damage,” state environmental officials warned in a statement.

DES suggests people and their pets avoid contact with the water where there is a surface scum or blue-green flecks.

This Wednesday in Concord, Connor will host a workshop on the topic for more than 70 people, including municipal workers and lakeshore residents.

He said New Hampshire was the first state to start a program to monitor cyanobacteria, at least five years ago. The state checks 180 public beaches for cyanobacteria and has volunteers who monitor about 200 lakes and bring samples to the state for analysis, Connor said.

“The thing people don’t understand with cyanobacteria is, it’s worldwide. It’s not just in New Hampshire lakes,” Connor said, noting most bodies of water contain only minute amounts.

DES, UNH and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center have submitted a proposal for a four-year grant to study cyanobacteria and its possible link to ALS, Haney said.

“It’s a very compelling argument that can be made that there is a possible link between these two: ALS and cyanobacteria toxins found in some of the lakes,” he said. “However, until we test that hypothesis, we won’t know.”

Many Mascoma Lake residents became concerned after the ALS reports surfaced, according to Andrea LaMoreaux, education director of the New Hampshire Lakes Association.

“We did get calls from Lake Mascoma (residents), ‘I have company coming next week. Can they swim in the lake?’” she said. “Absolutely, unless you see a bloom in that area, we would recommend people swim in the water.”

LaMoreaux said the “ALS report does not raise our level of concern. There’s still a lot of science to be done to show a link.”

As far as the state’s lakes, she added: “We don’t want people to be afraid to use the water. We just want people to be educated about what’s in the water.”

Concord, NH

Is there a toxic algae bloom in your lake? You may have read it in the papers or heard it on the radio-a few of New Hampshire’s lakes have already had cyanobacteria (toxic algae) advisories issued this year and scientific researchers report that cyanobacteria blooms may be linked to unusually high rates of Lou Gehrig’s disease around a few of New Hampshire’s lakes, and other lakes in New England.

Attend this year’s Lakes Congress hosted by NH LAKES at Colby Sawyer College on June 26^th and find out exactly what this means for you and your summer on the lakes. Officials from the Department of Environmental Services (DES) will be there with specific information on this most current issue of concern. “State officials will be at Lakes Congress, so this is a perfect opportunity for people to come and get the most up to date details about the cyanobacteria blooms just reported in some of our lakes,” explains Andrea LaMoreaux, Education Director at NH LAKES and conference organizer, “they want to help clarify the facts and the myths for people. Not all algae that you see out there are cyanobacteria.”

Jared Teutsch, President of NH LAKES, seconds the need for clarity. “We don’t want people to be afraid to go in the water,” says Teutsch, explaining the need for awareness in helping to inform the public and create more eyes on potential lake issues of concern.

 Cyanobacteria scums typically look like paint chips or bright green balls floating in the water and are usually caused by excessive nutrient pollution into surface waters coupled by warming water temperatures.  DES advises that if you notice anything resembling cyanobacteria, to refrain from wading, swimming, or drinking the water.  Keep all pets out of the water and contact DES at (603) 419-9229 to immediately report a potential bloom.

 To learn more about cyanobacteria and what you can do to help prevent it from blooming in your lake, attend NH LAKES’ Lakes Congress to get first hand information. To find out more about the event, other lake-related issues being presented and discussed, and to register, visit NH LAKES online at www.nhlakes.org. For the latest advisories all summer long, click on “Beach Advisories” on the lower right hand side of the home page.

The 2009 Lakes Congress is taking place on Friday, June 26, 2009, at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, in the heart of the Lake Sunapee Region.  The theme of the 2009 Lakes Congress is “Partnerships Protecting New Hampshire’s Lakes.”  This sixteenth Lakes Congress offers an excellent opportunity for lake enthusiasts, lake association members, state agency personnel, researchers, lake and watershed management professionals, and political leaders to exchange information, ideas, and experiences.

NH LAKES is a statewide, nonprofit, member-supported organization headquartered in Concord. The organization is dedicated to protecting New Hampshire’s lakes, which are integral to the quality of life and economic health of the State. NH LAKES serves as a source of information about lakes and lake issues through educational materials and programs, and through its work with state legislators advocating on issues of water quality, boater education and boating safety, invasive species prevention, appropriate public access and a balance of lake uses.

For more information on the organization’s lake protection efforts across the state, please visit www.nhlakes.org.