DETERMINING EFFECTS OF BOAT USE ON LAKE SHORELINE EROSION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE USING SEDIMENTOLOGICAL DATA

Multiple lakes in northern New Hampshire and western Maine have recently experienced issues with shoreline erosion and deep-water anoxia. As shoreline erosion increases, an influx of organic material is transported into the lake. As it settles to the bottom and begins decomposing, the water in the deeper layers of the lake can become anoxic. Using sediment cores and sedimentological data from 5 lakes in New Hampshire and Maine, Pleasant Lake, Newfound Lake, Kezar Lake, Spofford Lake and Horseshoe Pond, this project aims to determine the cause of this recent shoreline erosion and deep-water anoxia in these lakes. We will be comparing current and past lake management plans to determine if changes in lake management could be contributing to this increase in erosion as well. Over the last 30 years there has been a large increase in recreational boating on the lakes in this region. We hypothesize that this increase in shoreline erosion may be due to an increase in wave-directed energy from recreational boating, resulting in increased turbidity, organic debris in shallow regions and, ultimately, enlarged anoxic zones.