Eileen Ehman

I am in full support of HB1607 which will help in the efforts to prevent harmful cyanobacteria blooms in NH waterbodies. I live on Lake Kanasatka in Moultonborough, NH, and I currently serve as treasurer of the Lake Kanasatka Watershed Association (LKWA), which is led by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. Our 380-acre lake began experiencing cyanobacteria blooms in 2020. LKWA reached out to NH DES to learn about next steps. Our first step was hiring an environmental consultant to write a Watershed-Based Management Plan. This 10-year plan (available on our website, www.kanasatka.org) is a multi-faceted approach to addressing cyanobacteria blooms. We began implementing the steps outlined in the Plan starting in 2022. In the fall of 2023, a lake-wide cyanobacteria bloom turned the water pea green, and we realized that Lake Kanasatka desperately needed an aluminum phosphate treatment to prevent these toxic cyanobacteria blooms. The State of New Hampshire provided funding from the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund to pay for the bulk of the alum treatment in the Spring of 2024, and we are in the process of two additional grant programs that will improve several private roads in our watershed. Our association is also working closely with our lake residents to improve their waterfronts; as of October 2025, 40 properties had received Lake Smart status. We are aware that there are many other lakes in NH that are experiencing cyanobacteria blooms, a danger to health, commerce and tourism. While lake associations work with homeowners to prevent stormwater run-off and encourage septic system maintenance, the state must do its part to enact stricter guidelines on products which create conditions that could lead to harmful cyanobacteria blooms. We are reaching a turning point, and we urgently request the state to take these steps toward addressing this crisis. Thank you.