Like every pond and lake, Chocorua Lake is home to myriad species of flora and fauna.
On Saturday, August 13 from 7:30-10AM, join Chocorua Lake Conservancy for a leisurely guided paddle on Chocorua Lake with naturalist and outdoor educator Hillary Behr. We’ll leave from the Island public access area on Route 16, and explore the vegetated buffer along the water’s edge with its many nooks and crannies. We’ll see what insects, reptiles and amphibians we can find and learn what plants grow with their “feet” in wet soils at the lake’s edge or on the bottom.
While exploring the native flora and fauna, we’ll be on the lookout for signs of exotic aquatic species that could create problems in the lake if they become established. We’ll have with us some Weed Watcher Kits from the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) to help with our searches and identification. Chocorua Lake is home to many native aquatic plants, and looking for clues to identification can help us all be more aware of what is around us.
Want to learn more in advance about what we can be looking for, both the species that belong here and the ones that cause trouble? Amy Smagula, Exotic Species Program Coordinator at DES, joined us for a webinar on “Protecting Our Lakes from Aquatic Invasive Species.” You can watch the webinar below to learn how to identify the native plants in Chocorua Lake and on the shore, and what the ones we’re hoping never to find look like!
Participants must bring their own canoe or kayak, and paddles, and life jackets are required. Be sure to bring sun and bug protection, a water bottle, and snacks. Please register in advance below so that we can let you know of any changes in the schedule. Rain date will be Sunday, August 28.
Hillary Behr. Photo courtesy of Hillary Behr.
Hillary Behr grew up exploring the woods and waters of Tamworth and still calls it home. She earned a degree in Environmental Conservation and spent 8 years in rural California, working in land conservation and outdoor science education. Hillary has a Masters of Education, a NH teaching certification, and has worked as a teacher in many different settings, both outdoors and in the classroom, most recently teaching high school Environmental Science.
Banner image: Paddling on Chocorua Lake. Photo: Lynne Flaccus