The Highs and Lows of Bennett Cove
This year, I have spent a great deal of time removing invasive variable milfoil, monitoring groundwater inflow, conducting stream monitoring, and assisting with fish assemblage monitoring. This part of my AmeriCorps service has allowed me to investigate the influence of groundwater and surface waters to Squam Lakes’ water quality and interact with the public on these subjects.
It has also allowed me to become familiar with the intricacies and patterns of certain places, none more so than Bennett Cove. Below I have listed the best and worst parts of my experiences there. You’ll have to figure out for yourself which is which.
Early October, and I am removing the last of my groundwater seepage meters. The air is chilly, the water is chillier, and I am wading in shorts. Fortunately, as my sampling began in late May, I have a dry bag full of layers and plenty of cold spring mornings to compare it to.
My only snapping turtle sighting was as I was surveying the outer reaches of our area of interest. I looked to my right and saw what I thought at first was a large round boulder. And then it turned its head to look at me.
The water near the bottom is icy cold, especially in early summer- a sign of groundwater inflow. This is good for my monitoring, but not so much for my diving.
Paddling up to the stream on a foggy morning. Mist sat over the water as I paddled into progressively narrowing and shallowing waters, until I had to duck under trees to step out on the bank.
In the early morning the day before Ridge Race, loons were unbothered by my presence as I left my sample site.
Many, many tiny leeches.
Something slithering between my arm and torso while pulling milfoil. I suspect a catfish.
Loaded up with the YSI meter and several other monitoring implements, I capsized the dive kayak next to the dive boat while attempting to hand something to Emma on a rainy day in July.
The largemouth bass who stares and stares.
People yelling from their lawns to ask what I am doing when I am measuring groundwater seepage. (I imagine it looks very mysterious.) I try to educate them best I can from that distance.
This is the only seepage meter site I need to bring a table to. It is also the windiest, which leads to less precise bag measurements.
Looking across a bright green milfoil patch at schools of tiny fish in crystal clear water.
Corbin tapping my shoulder underwater. I didn’t expect anyone to be down there.
Coming up from the total darkness of milfoil and algae, and expecting to be above it, and then expecting to be above it again.
The time Annalicea’s minnow traps disappeared.
The mystery of why- contrary to what I had expected- shallow Bennett seepage meters exhibited an outflow of groundwater from the lake.
I contemplated for weeks the logistics of diving to install them deeper, only so that when the time came, the water level had dropped so much that I only had to duck my head under to install the boxes.
Bennett Deep Barrel #2. My legs always sink into the muck up to my knees. Did I mention the tiny leeches?
Carolina is a full-timer serving with the Squam Lakes Association working on water quality conservation. Learn more about Carolina here.