Update: THANK YOU to everyone that submitted remote testimony, emailed the committee, or came in person to the Senate Finance Committee hearing on SB 394-FN-A to allocate $1M to the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Loan Fund, with $350K to Lake Kanasatka. The committee received 301 responses in favor and 0 opposed. So what's next? Chairman James Gray indicated that they have a lot of bills with appropriations this session, and they do not intend to move forward with any of the bills proposed until they have a better idea of the fiscal budget.
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SB 394-FN-A, the bill to appropriate $1M to the cyanobacteria fund and allot $350K of that to Lake Kanasatka is being heard in the Senate Finance Committee on
Thursday, Jan. 4 at 1:40 pm in Room 103 at the State House. Lake Kanasatka has been experiencing repeated cyanobacteria blooms for the past few years. The blooms in Kanasatka impact Lake Winnipesaukee as well, as Kanasatka drains into Blackey Cove, Lake Winnipesaukee.
Yet another cyanobacteria alert was issued for Lake K on 12/26/23 and removed on 1/2/24. The proposed treatment will bind phosphorus to the sediment, making it inactive under anoxic conditions and therefore unavailable to cyanobacteria.
Lake Kanasatka was under an alert or advisory for 128 days in 2023.
It is VERY IMPORTANT that supporters of this bill communicate their support to members of the Committee. There are several ways to do this:
1. Attend the hearing, sign up in support on the forms on the table just inside the hearing room. If possible, also indicate that you want to speak in favor of the bill. Your remarks should be 3 mins and speak to how this bill benefits the region and environment (don’t make it just about a personal benefit) but also say how blooms have impacted you.
2. If you cannot attend, email the committee with your support and why. Again, short and a personal appeal is more likely to be read. Copy and paste the following email addresses to reach the senators on this committee:
James.Gray@leg.state.nh.us,
Daniel.Innis@leg.state.nh.us,
Regina.Birdsell@leg.state.nh.us,
Howard.Pearl@leg.state.nh.us,
Jeb.Bradley@leg.state.nh.us,
Cindy.Rosenwald@leg.state.nh.us,
Lou.Dallesandro@leg.state.nh.us,
debra.martone@leg.state.nh.us
3. Use the remote sign in form to also share your support for this bill.
https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rem...ee/senate.aspx
Please feel free to share this with others who may be interested. Thank you for your support!
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The Lake Winnipesaukee Association (LWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the water quality and natural resources of Lake Winnipesaukee and its watershed. Through monitoring, education, stewardship, and science guided approaches for lake management, LWA works to ensure Winnipesaukee’s scenic beauty, wildlife habitat, water quality and recreational potential continues to provide enjoyment long into the future.
http://www.winnipesaukee.org/
http://winnipesaukeegateway.org/