KINGSTON - Kingston State Park is understaffed this year due to cuts in state funding, but local efforts have increased to protect the lake.

The park lost $18,000 in revenue over the past two years, resulting in staff cuts and deferred maintenance this summer, said Amy Bassett, marketing director for the state park system. Three teenagers share responsibility for operating the 44-acre park seven days a week and there aren't any lifeguards on duty, she said.

Town officials have a mounting list of safety concerns, due to a lack of adult supervision at the park, but residents around the water are pitching in to do what they can to head off any environmental issues that may arise at the lake.

Typically, there are two to three emergency calls a year from the park and, when crews arrive, a lifeguard or ranger directs them to the problem, fire Chief Bill Seaman said.

"It shouldn't have opened without adequate staffing," he said. "Life safety is an issue."

Road Agent Rich St. Hilaire said this year the park didn't open until after high-school graduation, which should have been a sign. Adult supervision is necessary, he and Seaman agreed, especially when it comes to issues with overcrowding, dogs and alcohol.

"I'm sure they are great kids doing a great job," Seaman said. "But for a young kid to walk up to a group of adults who have been drinking ..."

Town officials want to see the state rectify the problem for next summer, but locals are doing what they can right now to lessen the impact.

Muriel Ingalls, president of the Kingston Lake Association, said the state park can be an important protector of the lake because it takes up 10 percent of the shoreline with visitors, instead of homes that can pollute the lake with septic systems.

"It's not impacting the actual land," she said of the state park. "There may be a temporary impact, but just for the day."

Although harmful toxins from septic systems aren't getting into the lake at the park, picnic benches and other litter are finding their way into the water.

During a cleanup in June, the lake association pulled two tons of debris from the lake - some of which appeared to come from the state park. Now Ingalls' group is willing to volunteer manpower for "serious cleanups" and park maintenance.

Partnerships between state parks and local organizations exist throughout the state, so Ingalls believes state park officials will be open to the idea. The Kingston Lake Association plans to invite a representative from the system and someone from the state Department of Environmental Services to its meeting in September.

It's all a part of what the 80 members of the Kingston Lake Association are working toward.

The group just received a grant from the New Hampshire Lakes Association to monitor both the state and town boat ramps on Main Street in an effort to prevent the spread of exotic weeds - and help bring some supervision back to the lake.

"If a plant comes in and isn't native, it takes over," Ingalls said. "It chokes out everything, even the water."

Craig Eldridge, 17, works at the ramps on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. As long as the Kingston Lakes Association volunteers at the ramp on the weekends, the state lakes association pays for Eldridge's time.

Eldridge said he educates people about dangerous weeds while he inspects their boats and trailers for milfoil - the most harmful to vegetation and wildlife.

There haven't been any foreign weeds found in the lake so far, but Ingalls said her association is working hard to keep it that way since more than 50 other lakes in the state have milfoil problems.

 

Want to join?

The Kingston Lake Association is looking for members to reach its goal of 100 families by its first annual meeting on Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.kingstonlakenh.com or send contact information and $50 dues to P.O. Box 1018, Kingston, NH 03848.