Bob Grazer

My wife and I support HB 1477 which requires a $50 permit for anchored seasonal platforms, including inflatables. The revenues will be split evenly between the Navigation Safety Fund and the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund. We live on Silver Lake in Madison which experienced its first toxic Cyanobacteria bloom in September, 2023. We moved to New Hampshire in 2016. At that time, there weren’t any recorded toxic cyanobacteria blooms on Silver Lake nor do we recall seeing any anchored seasonal platforms on the lake. We kayak on the lake from ice out into November. Anchored inflatables have become common since 2016 ranging from swimming pads to trampolines to 20 foot diameter swans to massive modular systems with slides and even climbing walls. These inflatables negatively impact the health of the lake by blocking sunlight killing off plants beneath them which provide oxygen and food for fish; discourage habitats for animals like loons and smallmouth bass; negatively effect tourism and property values for those seeking the pristine nature experience expected in New Hampshire. Please support the bill to provide resources to fund efforts to combat cyanobacteria and keep our NH lakes healthy and pristine.