2013 Water Report

2013 Water Report

We continue water sampling on our pond in cooperation with the NH State Department of Environmental Services (DES) Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP).   We do testing once each month during June, July, and August, one with the state’s participation.  A two page report on our pond and a much longer report on the lakes in our region, including data on Thorndike Pond, is available at the DES website by going to http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/, then click on Volunteer Lake Assessment Program, then 2012 VLAP reports.  From there you can select either the regional reports (we are in the Monadnock Region) or Individual Reports for our pond.

The single most important measurement is total phosphorous and for this Thorndike Pond has been stable for the past two decades, about at the state average.  Measurements taken this June are slightly better than 2012. 

Water clarity is one of the most apparent measurements to residents.  For Thorndike Pond water clarity varies between readings but is about at the state average and improved over measurements made in 2011.

pH measurements continue to show that our pond is “slightly” acidic and reported to be “lower than desirable”, but is not much different from the state average.

Jim Banghart

VLAP Coordinator for the TPCA