It seems like winter barely got started this year and then spring came early, too early for skiers anyway. But now that the snow is gone open ground is again exposed to the weather and lakeside home owners need to be aware of what this might mean for their property and the possible effects on the lake.
Here are some simple tips to help keep the lake in the best condition while sprucing up your lakefront property.
- Sweep up extra sand from driveways and roadways near the lake. Extra sand can bind to nutrients, carrying these into the water. The sand can also contaminate shallow rocky areas crucial for fish nesting.
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Don’t rake. Leaving a layer of duff on the ground protects from surface runoff. Rain on lawns, driveways and roads is a major source of runoff. During the early spring, before the leaves have come out on the trees rain has an even larger impact on the ground and can cause greater runoff. Leaving some of the natural material on the ground can help to absorb the imminent spring showers. 
Plan a buffer garden. It may be too early yet to get out the shovel but this is a great time to plan to add more plants to the area nearest the shore. This is one of the best activities you can do for your property while protecting the lake. The efforts you put in will add beauty to your landscape while helping to absorb water running off your property.-
Re-install or clean out gutters. Getting those gutters in shape will help to divert rain water to where it is supposed to go. If your gutters just dump onto bare ground plan a runoff garden. Landscape the area near the downspout with a combination of rocky material and great plants to absorb water coming from your roof.
These are just a few simple tips to help get your property back into shape for the coming fun of summer while helping to keep Conway Lake pristine. For more great information on how to manage your lakefront home for great water quality try reading the NH Lakes, Shorelines newsletter.