Cyanobacteria

A new federal water permit is out for a state fish hatchery in New Durham that's accused, in a federal lawsuit, of polluting waters that feed into Lake Winnipesaukee.

The long-awaited permit could prompt costly upgrades at the Powder Mill Fish Hatchery, the state’s largest, in the next several years.

The state is out with a first-of-its-kind report on the health of New Hampshire’s lakes, showing the effects of climate change, population growth and a decline in acid rain.

The report takes a comprehensive look at water quality trends from the past few decades or longer in 150 of the state’s lakes and ponds monitored by volunteers and state biologists.

The state will not conduct some routine sampling of inland beaches this summer due the pandemic.

The Department of Environmental Services says they’ll focus on monitoring and responding to blooms of toxic algae at freshwater shores this season.

They will not regularly sample those beaches for fecal bacteria as they have in other years.

They say their lab capacity and other logistics have been hampered by the coronavirus.

UPDATE: The draft permit was issued Dec. 31 and is open for public comment until Feb. 14, 2020. Click here for details. Original story continues below: 

A state fish hatchery facing a federal water pollution lawsuit will soon receive a key new permit from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The suit comes from neighbors of the state's largest fish hatchery, Powder Mill in New Durham.

State beach monitors say they're still observing cyanobacteria blooms on New Hampshire's lakes and ponds, even this late in the year.

Blooms have been seen recently on shorelines in on Country Pond Newton and on Webster Lake Franklin. They appear as green or blue streaks, flecks and pond scum, caused by excess nutrients in the water.

Cyanobacteria can contain toxins that can sicken or harm humans and pets on contact and can lead to serious chronic conditions.

An environmental group is suing the state Fish & Game Department for alleged pollution from a Lakes Region fish hatchery.

Meanwhile, the department’s executive director says they suit won’t affect their ongoing work to fix the problem.

New Durham residents are frustrated by what they call slow progress in fixing pollution at the state’s largest fish hatchery.

State lawmakers are asking questions about a pending pollution lawsuit in the Lakes Region.

They'll hold a public meeting in New Durham Thursday to discuss allegations against the state's largest fish hatchery. 

The Conservation Law Foundation is preparing to sue the state Fish & Game Department on behalf of local residents.

New Hampshire’s Department of Fish & Game is facing a potential lawsuit over water pollution from its largest fish hatchery.

The Conservation Law Foundation told the state Thursday it plans to file a Clean Water Act lawsuit this fall, unless the state begins working to fix the alleged problems within 60 days.

The Powder Mill hatchery in New Durham grows trout and salmon to stock state fishing areas, and it’s expanded in the past decade or so.

A team of researchers is sampling lakes across the Northeast this week as part of efforts to better understand what’s causing cyanobacteria blooms.

The blooms have become common in other parts of the country, including the Midwest, and are starting to pop up locally in New Hampshire and surrounding states. Scientists are unsure what’s driving the change.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is warning those who visit a park in Hopkinton of a bloom of cyanobacteria that might produce health concerns.

The department released the advisory about a bloom at the Elm Brook Park Beach on Tuesday. It says people and pets should avoid contact with the water in places where the lake has surface scum or green streaks.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services says it is seeing an increase of dangerous levels of cyanobacteria in some lakes and ponds.

The most recent advisories include French and Keyser ponds in Henniker, Sebbins Pond in Bedford and Lee's Pond in Moultonborough. Warnings have been posted at sites affected by the bacteria and also at public beaches with advisories for fecal contamination, such as Opechee Park Cove Beach in Laconia. Conditions include surface scums, or streaks, or blue-green flecks in the water.

Cyanobacteria advisories are in place at Elm Brook Park beach in Hopkinton and Silver Lake State Park Beach in Hollis. 

State officials are urging visitors to stay out of the water if they observe blue-green scum or clumps suspended in the water column. Cyanobacteria can be toxic to both humans and dogs.