Our HIstory

---

CPLA got its start on a sunny Saturday afternoon in September of 2017. Jeanne Cashin, concerned about the increasing incidence of cyanobacteria blooms on the lake and other water quality issues, organized a meeting to see if the Country Pond community was interested in forming a lake association to help address this and other issues. She spread the word among neighbors, and together with Tobi Howell, created a flyer which they posted on docks around the lake. 

The meeting was well attended, and everyone agreed that a lake association was needed to improve and protect Country Pond’s water quality. Several people volunteered to serve as board members, and Tully Zipkin offered to serve as our first board President. Jeanne volunteered as Secretary, Jennifer West as Treasurer and Greg Senko as Vice President.  The group agreed to form a New Hampshire non-profit corporation and chose the name Country Pond Lake Association (CPLA).

The Board began meeting monthly and received helpful direction from NH Lakes and NH DES.  It was apparent that CPLA needed to startup programs for Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP), Watershed Management Planning, Lake Host and Weed Watchers.  Continuing to work closely with NH DES and NH Lakes, we dove in! 

Gregory Senko, Kingston – President

Joel Daly, Newton - Acting Vice President

Sue Zipkin, Newton - Treasurer 

Barbara DiVecchia, Newton - Secretary

Linda Foss, Kingston – Communications

Tobi Howell, Newton - Social Media 

Bill Cashin, Newton - VLAP, Special Projects

Jennifer West, Newton - Member-at-large 

Alicia Geilen, Newton - Water Testing Coordinator

CPLA needs Lake Host Inspectors to conduct courtesy boat inspections at the Newton town boat ramp this summer. 

Inspectors are stationed at the boat ramp to help prevent invasive species from being introduced into the  lake by performing courtesy boat and trailer inspections. They educate the public on aquatic invasive species and how to prevent their spread by arriving "Cleaned, Drained and Dry". Visitors to the boat ramp recognize Lake Host Inspectors as someone ‘official’ who are cooperative and friendly. For this reason, all Lake Hosts are required to be in uniform (wearing the blue shirt or sweatshirt and a smile) while on duty at the boat ramp.

Lake Host Inspectors do not enforce local or state ordinances, rules, or laws. They provide boaters with courtesy information about the laws in a nonthreatening manner, they do not enforce boater adherence to laws; deny boater access to the waterbody; or threaten to report them for any potential violations.

Lake Hosts can be either volunteers or paid employees.  No prior experience is needed - training will be provided by NH LAKES in Concord or via a webinar.  CPLA will also provide local training sessions.

For more information on the Lake Host program, please visit the NH LAKES website, https://nhlakes.org/lake-host/

To become a Lake Host, sign up at NH Lakes Lake Host Inquiry.  

To apply, please send your resume to countrypondla@gmail.com.