Quotes
“The new management plan for Ossipee Lake Natural Area is the win-win outcome everyone hoped for but few believed was possible. The credit belongs to a lot of people, but the list starts with DRED Commissioner George Bald and Natural Heritage Bureau Administrator Don Kent for bringing everyone together to address the issues.” Ossipee Lake Alliance Executive Director David Smith. [June 2009]
“We’re not here to look backward and assign blame to boaters or to the state for the damage that’s already been done. Our job is to look forward and make this plan work.” DRED Natural Heritage Bureau administrator Don Kent, at the first meeting of the Ossipee Lake Natural Area Working Group. [November 2008]
“The goal of the plan is to manage the OLNA shoreline and nearshore for education and recreation, while protecting rare plants, exemplary natural communities, and historical resources.” DRED Draft Shoreline and Nearshore Mananagement Plan. [June 2008]
“An easement could ensure that [DRED's] recurring failure and a slow bleeding of our natural and cultural heritage comes to an end, once and for all.” Effingham Conservation Commission Chairman Kamalendu Nath recommending that The Nature Conservancy take over management of the Natural Area. [June 2007]
“We are working on Ossipee [the Natural Area] on almost a daily basis. The major message from the Commissioner to us is we need to do something out there to ensure compliance and ensure protection.” DRED Forests & Lands Director Philip Bryce in the Carroll County Independent. [May 2007]
“It was amazing. It was like a city.” Ossipee Main Street Program Director Sarah Millette, quoted by the Carroll County Independent about her first visit to Ossipee Lake Natural Area. [August 2006]
“The Ossipee Lake Natural Area is one of the state’s most valuable assets in terms of its natural and cultural resources.” DRED internal memo to Commissioner George Bald from the heads of DRED’s Division of Forests and Lands, Natural Heritage Bureau and Land Management Bureau recommending that the shoreline be closed. [August 2006]
“Restoring the pond shore communities and rare species known from the site is still possible provided that steps be taken as soon as possible to protect the area. DRED “Hot Spot” report on damage caused by recreation. [June 2003]
“It is apparent that we have one of New Hampshire’s most significant sandy pondshore ecosystems. It must be protected.” DRED Commissioner George Bald, rejecting a proposal to construct a public beach in the Natural Area. [November 1999]
“The inland beach strand community is an assemblage of plants which apparently does not occur anywhere else in the world outside Ossipee Lake.” Daniel Sperduto reporting for the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. [October 1994]
August 15th, 2007 at 8:35 am
The Long Sands area of Ossipee Lake remains one of the most beautiful natural treasures in New Hampshire, no less North America, and it will only remain that way if we, the people, protect it. Our state government is supposed to represent us in this critical purpose, yet it stands idle, partially because we have not spoken loudly enough. Keeping New Hampshire Lakes beautiful, clean and unpolluted by supporting the maintenance of the many existing public beaches, not by letting them deteriorate while destroying protected unique shoreline environments is what “Live Free or Die” means to me.
September 10th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I visited the Ossipee Lake Natural Area a few times over the busy holiday weekend, and it was encouraging to see people recreating with care and respecting the new signs. Most of the people using the Pine River boat launch where I was inspecting for milfoil were aware of the natural area, although they were not always clear about why the shoreline needed protection and what the rare plants looked like. More visitor education about what is being protected and why would be beneficial in the future. The AMC has worked hard with other organizations to restore and protect rare alpine plants over the years – this could be a similar success story!
October 30th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
What we have here is the result of a group of people who think that there is only one way to enjoy nature…Their way. Not everyone wants to paddle around in a kayak and eat granola bars…The solution is a simple one. Enforcement! Marine patrol has been forced to spend their time looking for mooring stickers in Deer Cove, and speeders in Broad Bay. These guys need to make it clear that no nonsense will be allowed on the shores of Long Sands. I should not have to ask the guy in the party boat with 6 foot tall speakers not play his music. He should already know that it will not be tolerated.