Protecting NH Lakes: $1 Million in Funding to Prevent Cyanobacteria Blooms

Concord, NH – Today, following approval by members of the Executive Council, New Hampshire’s Department of Environmental Services announced two items totaling $1,000,000 in funding to make lakes and waterbodies across the Granite State cleaner and healthier by reducing cyanobacteria blooms (otherwise known as blue-green algae).
 
To date, cyanobacteria blooms have been documented in 113 waterbodies statewide and account for 64 water quality impairments to recreational use. In the 2023 monitoring season, the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) recorded the highest number of bloom events on record, issuing 69 advisories across 47 lakes (some lakes had multiple advisories). Four waterbodies had advisories issued for more than 100 days and ten had advisories longer than 50 days. Collectively, the impacts over the past year restricted the recreational use of 47 waterbodies for 1,400 days. The funding approved today will serve to help minimize such advisories.
 
“Summer fun starts on New Hampshire’s lakes and waterbodies, making us a premier destination for tourism and recreation,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “This funding will help improve water quality on our lakes to ensure we remain the crown jewel of New England!”
 
In 2023, the Department of Environmental Services was appropriated $1 million for cyanobacteria mitigation through HB 2. The Governor and Executive Council are supplementing this funding with $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
 
Item #91 provides the Department of Environmental Services with $500,000 to issue grants for control and mitigation of cyanobacteria statewide with APRA funding.
 
Item #94 grants the Lake Kanasatka Association $500,000 to fund treatment of phosphorus in Lake Kanasatka and significantly reduce or eliminate cyanobacteria algae blooms.