YOUR COMMENTS

I am a volunteer Lake Host at our lake's boat ramp. Our program started last season, 2008 and we are pleased with the overwhelming support and appreciation expressed by visitors to our lake.

As volunteers, we started our program with opening day of fishing and we realize this is before these exotic weeds
even start growing as the water is still very cold. Last year our volunteer force continued well into Colunbus Day weekend in October.

We love our clean water and want to keep it free from invasise plant species!

Through the NH Lakes Association Grant and funding from our Lake Association we were able to hire two (2) young people as paid hosts to help provide ramp coverage from Memorial - Labor Day weekend.

Thanks to NH Lakes Association for sponsering and maintaining this important program!

Jim - Lempster
- Jim, Lempster

Well, lets see, $2200 per day to keep the idiots from spreading invasive plants to our lakes. Whatever happened to common sense? Oh, I forgot, It disappeared about 50 years ago.
- Bill, Tuftonboro

The lake hosts at the lakes we bring our boat to do a great job and are very polite. I've also never seen anyone refuse an inspection. It's too bad the lake hosts also don't have the authority to instruct boaters on proper ramp etiquette as well. Better for the hosts that they don't have to deal with it. From what they've told me, they witness a lot of entertaining antics.
- Mike, Temple

Why would you refuse an inspection unless you're trying to spread invasive species?
- Jeff, Manchester

I think this is a great program and I am more than happy to let them inspect my boat and trailer. If some can get paid then good for them. For those that refuse? I say send them on their way because to say no is just being a jerk! Keep up the good work!!
- Bill B., Pelham

Just to clarify: the NH LAKES Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based out of Concord NH. We created the Lake Host program in 2002 and it is a nonprofit program NOT a state government program. We employ about 220 PAID Lake Hosts each year throughout the state of NH and work with local associations and municipalities that help recruit an additional 400+ volunteers to help at area boat ramps, providing courtesy boat inspections and educating boaters about exotic invasive aquatic plants. We receive funding for the program from individual, association and municipal donations, as well as state and federal grants. We welcome your participation to help keep our lakes clean. Thank you!
- Jared Teutsch, Concord, NH

The system works with BOTH paid and volunteer lake hosts.

Each Lake Association around the state can apply for a grant from the NH Lake Association; they get a large grant from the State and act as the dispersing agent.

The local grant is always in the form of a “matching grant” where local volunteers must contribute time (at a prescribed hourly rate value) or money to fully match the state funds.

Formal training including hands-on lab time with boat inspection and week identification is part of both paid and volunteer Lake Host training.

See the website at http://www.nhlakes.org/

Look for the “Blue Shirts” at your local boat ramp, they serve and protect our lakes from exotic weeds and serve to educate boaters across the State.
- Bob, Francestown

In answer to AJB's question, the program uses a combination of paid workers and volunteers. Usually the volunteers are the people who set up and manage the programs (which is more work than you might think) and the paid workers are the lake hosts. But lake hosts can sometimes be volunteers too. Each local program is set up differently.
- Skip M., Ossipee

How do I get a job there. I'll bring my own chair.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

Maybe someone can prove me wrong, but these are VOLUNTEER positions. When I did this a couple of years ago, there was no pay involved. Maybe the rules changed?
- AJB, Nottingham

Add my name to the list of people who are grateful for our State Government and especially the lake hosts for supporting this program to protect our NH resources! Please keep up the great work and many thanks!
- Garrett Stumb, Nottingham, NH