ABOUT MLA
The Mascoma Lake Association (MLA) was founded in 1923 “to promote neighborliness and to inspect lakefront properties in the winter months”. In those days lakefront properties consisted of summer “camps” owned by area residents who checked each other’s properties in the winter and organized a few socials in the summer. MLA’s role has changed considerably since then.
MISSION
The objectives of the Mascoma Lake Association are to protect Lake Mascoma and its environment, to promote the responsible and sustainable enjoyment of the Lake by all its users, and to educate the public on issues related to these objectives.
The Mascoma Lake Association is a not-for-profit 501.c.3 organization. Everything is done by volunteers. We do not have any paid staff members or offices.
CYANOBACTERIA ALERTS
The NH Deportment of Environmental Services has changed its approach to cyanobacteria alerts! They will not be issuing notices that recommend staying out of the entire lake for a week, as in past years. A “watch” means that a high concentration was verified in one location on the lake. It “does not close the waterbody to recreational use.” The warning is “intended as a precautionary measure to inform the public of the potential health risks associated with cyanobacteria blooms.” Please see the updated FAQs on the DES website for more information.
If you think you see a harmful algal bloom, report to NHDES via the Bloom Report Form.
NH DES now offers lake-specific email updates for cyanobacteria watches and warnings, as well as updates for when warnings are lifted. You can sign up here via their website.
RESOURCES
Your membership in the Association can really enhance your life at our Lake while helping to protect and preserve our community now and into the future.
We have many ways to make a donation to the origanization. Your contributions will go directly to benefiting Mascoma Lake.
Volunteers are needed to keep our lake pristine for recreation and living. Whatever your interest and time availability, we have a need for you.
LAKE INFO MAPPER
This interactive map allows the user to access water quality information of individual waterbodies around New Hampshire. By zooming in and clicking on a waterbody of interest, the user has access to historic and current Lake Trophic Survey reports, the most recent Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP) reports, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) reports, ice cover history, cyanobacteria bloom history, Watershed Based Plans, Diagnostic Feasibility Studies, and information on known invasive aquatic species.
Download the latest MLA Brochure.
WILDLIFE PRESERVATION
Members are educated on the preservation needs of lake wildlife, primarily loons and eagles. Annually the number of loons and eagles and their offspring are monitored and efforts are made to ensure the habitats of the animals are preserved.
MILFOIL CONTROL
The key to successful milfoil control has been steady vigilance and dedicated volunteer participation. We do not expect to eliminate this invasive weed; it’s too tenacious. Even so, we have significantly reduced the infestation over time. (See charts below.) We have never used the expensive chemical treatments or suction harvesting methods other lakes have turned to when infestations get out of control. Instead, we conduct a form of specialized underwater hand weeding to remove plants without fragmenting and spreading them further.