“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh

About the MLPA

The Mirror Lake Protective Association (“MLPA”) is a non profit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation formed in 1991 to help maintain and preserve the environmental quality of Mirror Lake, a 378-acre lake located in the towns of Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro in Carroll County, New Hampshire.

Why was the MLPA Established?

The MLPA was established to:

Protect and preserve Mirror Lake, NH and the surrounding wildlife and wildlife habitat
Promote and educate the residents about the lake and its history

MLPA Mission

Founded in 1991, the Mirror Lake Protective Association seeks to: protect the water quality and shoreline of Mirror Lake; preserve the integrity of its natural environment within the watershed for the benefit of its inhabitants, flora, and fungi; promote sound conservation and land use management practices; encourage environmentally safe recreation; and increase knowledge of the lake and its history.

Interesting Neighbors

Our resident eagles make it clear that Mirror Lake and the surrounding land and wildlife are robust. After all, they are on the top of the food chain and have had plenty to keep them going over the years. As long as eagles are interested, we’re in great shape. And this year moose were added to our wildlife! The last documented sighting of moose dates back to the early 1990s and many of us saw the video of our new resident. So, how about that!

learn more about the wildlife at mirror lake

Initiatives

All lakes in NH face problems with cyanobacteria and invasive aquatic plants and MLPA has teams and protocols in place to address these issues.

learn more about how the mlpa protects the lake

Loons

Lead sinkers nearly made loons extinct. Lead is banned.

visit: initiatives loons

Invasive Plants

Contact a Weed Watcher if you spot purple loosestrife.

Visit: Initiatives invasive plants

Cyanobacteria

Use the Cyano Protocol if you spot a suspicious patch on the water.

visit: initiatives water quality

Phosphorus

Follow Best Management Practices on your property to minimize phosphorus.

visit: how we protect the lake

The MLPA is involved with a number of activities, including participation in the University of New Hampshire Center for Freshwater Biology’s New Hampshire Lakes Lay Monitoring Program, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Service’s Volunteer Assessment Program and the state-sponsored Lake Host Program and Weed Watcher Program.

In addition, the MLPA supports, through charitable donations, the New Hampshire Lakes Association,

the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, the Loon Preservation Committee, and Friends of Libby Museum. The annual operating budget of the MLPA is funded by the annual membership contributions of its members and special donations and grants.

The Town of Tuftonboro contributes to the cost of the laboratory analysis of water samples collected by volunteers under the UNH Lay Lakes Monitoring Program.

MLPA’s Volunteer Programs

The MLPA Relies on Active Volunteers

The MLPA relies on active volunteers to maintain and care for Mirror Lake, NH and its watershed. Described below are MLPA’s various volunteer programs carried out by community members. If you interested in participating or have any questions please feel free to contact us at anytime.

Water Quality Monitors

Mirror Lake’s water is sampled, once monthly, April through October, and at times through the ice in winter, at five locations in the lake. Monthly water samples are also taken at four locations in the tributaries entering Mirror Lake. Monitors collect samples, process them, and deliver the samples and data to the water quality testing labs at UNH and the NH Department of Environmental Services. MLPA analyzes the annual data to determine trends.

Web Site and Facebook

Volunteers help maintain this web site and MLPA’s Facebook page. Visit our Facebook group today to connect with other MLPA residents, members, lake hosts, locals and volunteers. The website was developed by the MLPA President and team while currently monitored by Wild Root Web: WordPress Web Design Company.

Lake Host Program

The MLPA is an active participant in the Lake Host program, which is administered by the New Hampshire Lakes Association. We need paid employees and volunteers in equal measure. The goal of the program is to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic nuisance species, both plant and animal, from waterbody to waterbody. This is done by greeting boaters at the Rt. 109 boat launch, inspecting their boats (with permission), and offering educational information. All Lake Hosts receive training. Learn more about the Lake Host Program and apply!

Board and Officers

Officers are elected annually and board members serve for a term of three years. Elections are held at the MLPA Annual Meeting held in the summer.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee is responsible for monitoring and building the financial stability of the MLPA.

Membership Team

Our membership goal for MLPA is 100! Each year we get closer to having representation from the 103 shoreline homes and 247 additional watershed residents. Addresses can be fluid as many members maintain two homes and email addresses fluctuate as members change jobs, names, and service providers. The membership team tries to keep up with it all!

Mirror Lake Apparel Team

Residents, family, and guests look sharp in hats, jackets, shirts and other items with the Mirror Lake insignia and the famous loon. Great as gifts, too! Join the team to celebrate our lovely lake.

Weed Watchers (Aquatic Invasive Plants)

Weed Watchers monitor the shoreline and lake bottom for aquatic plants and report their findings to the MLPA and NHDES. Monitoring is done using boats, including canoes and kayaks. A 2019 Field Guide to the Aquatics Plants of Mirror Lake has been prepared by MLPA’s environmental advisors. Mirror Lake has over 30 species of aquatic plants and only purple loosestrife has been found as an invasive plant.

Detailed descriptions of plants are available in the MLPA photo album section of Facebook.

Watershed Management Planning Team

Watershed management relates to the process of implementing water management and land use practices to improve and protect natural resources. The MLPA completed the recommendations from the 2012 Geosyntec Mirror Lake Watershed Management Plan during the decade timeline and is in the process of preparing grants to support a second long term plan.

Land Conservation Committee

In order to safeguard the lake, the Land Conservation committee identifies, prioritizes, and proposes sites in the watershed for potential acquisition and/or conservation easements.

Educational Programs

The MLPA participates in programs for public outreach and educational activities. Annual attendance at the Wentworth Watershed Association Water Summit, held in Wolfeboro, and the Lakes Congress sponsored by NH Lakes, convened in Meredith, help MLPA officers keep current with Best Management Practices. Additional activities include town and statewide committee membership, webinars, blogs, fundraising, awareness events, and information centers, with the content of each concentrating on lake environmental issues.

View our online Education Materials.

Welcome Team (a developing concept)

New neighbors are greeted by the MLPA Welcome Team members who help familiarize them with how to take care of the lake and its surroundings. Mirror Lake is divided into sections by neighborhood. We need help with our welcoming efforts!

Chipmunk Lane/Oak Hill: vacant; Kathy Sciarappa
Mirror Lake Estates: vacant
Governor Wentworth Highway: vacant
Museum Shores: Doris Briggs & Norma Milne
Anna McCarthy: vacant
Church Lane and side areas: vacant

MLPA Board of Directors

MLPA Board of Directors serve for three years

Mirror Lake Protective Association Officers

President: Kathleen Sciarappa
Vice President: Val Zanchuk
Treasurer: Robin Muench
Secretary: Fran O’Donoghue

Mirror Lake Protective Association Board of Directors

Director: Steve Cloutier
Director: Dusty Davies
Director: Larry Gil
Director: Gene Kelley

Director: Steve Scapicchio
Director: Ann Torregrossa

MLPA Committee Members

Buoys and Markers

Steve Cloutier

Community Engagement

Beth Argeros
Fran O’Donoghue

Finance

Len Bonfanti
Robin Muench
Seamas O’Scalaidhe
Kathy Sciarappa

Lake Host

Steve Cloutier
Denise Ferriman (paid Lake Host)
Larry Gil, Chair
Al Hardiman
Denise Katz (paid Lake Host)
Carol Lavelle

Loon Nest

T.R. Wood

Land Conservation Committee

Dusty Davies
John Dawson, Chair
Larry Gil (Tuftonboro Conservation Commission)
Gene Kelley
Robin Muench
Steve Scapicchio (Tuftonboro Conservation Commission)
Kathy Sciarappa
Ann Torregrossa
Julie Tryder

Membership

Steve Scapicchio
Duncan Sutherland

MLPA Apparel

Ginny Cole

Water Quality Monitoring

Tom Bissett
Steve Cloutier
Larry Gil
Al Hardiman
Fran O’Donoghue
Steve Scapicchio
Val Zanchuk

Watershed Management Planning Team

Laura Diemer
Larry Gil
Steve Scapicchio
Kathy Sciarappa
Val Zanchuk

Website/Communication

Steve Scapicchio
Kathy Sciarappa
Duncan Sutherland
Tiina Urv

Weed Watching (Aquatic Plants)

Claudia and Tom Bissett
Jeanne Freeze
Alan Hardiman
Kip Lachner
Norma Milne, Chair
Glenda Philbin
Tiina Urv

Welcome Team

Chipmunk Lane/Oak Hill: Kathy Sciarappa
Mirror Lake Estates: VACANT
Governor Wentworth Highway: VACANT
Museum Shores: Doris Briggs
Anna McCarthy: VACANT
Church Lane and side areas: VACANT

Mirror Lake, NH wave website background image

How Can I Join the MLPA?

Please fill out the online form on the Membership & Support page. All contributions are tax deductible, to the extent permitted by law.