When in doubt, stay out!

Is there some sort of karmic price that we have to pay for living in one of the most beautiful spots in the entire country?

Before you dive into that lake, make sure that it's safe for you do so.  At the time of this writing, there are two lakes in NH that have harmful bacteria for both humans and pets.

What Exactly is Cyanobacteria Blooms?

According to des.nh.gov:

Cyanobacteria (formerly called blue-green algae) are photosynthetic bacteria that naturally occur in lakes, ponds, and rivers around the world. A cyanobacteria “bloom” (sometimes referred to as a harmful algal bloom or CyanoHAB) is the name given to the excessive growth of cyanobacteria.

This bacteria can harm humans and animals.  If exposure is enough, it can produce skin irritation, cramps, throwing up, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint pain, MOUTH BLISTERS and acute liver damage.  JEEZ OH PETE!

Also, the DES of NH goes on to say, long term exposure can harm your central nervous system.

This NH Bacteria Could Be Fatal To Dogs if Ingested

This bacteria is even worse for dogs.  If they lick themselves after swimming or if they drink the water, they could die because of it.

The two lakes that currently show presence of cyanobacteria are:

• Lake Kanasatka, Moultonborough, NH
• Pawtuckaway Lake, Nottingham, NH

In addition to these two lakes, earlier today, there was a WMUR report of cyanobacteria at Swains Lake in Barrington, NH, however, that no longer shows on the Healthy Swimming Mapper for the State of New Hampshire.  The maximum amount of bacteria cells is 70,000 per milliliter.  If it gets close to that, the state will also report it.

Needless to say, don't swim, drink or wash anything in the water where this bacteria exists.  Just stay away until it's gone.

READ THIS:  Here are 14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering Locally Grown Strawberries

Believe me, I know how much of a buzz kill this is.  I grew up 2 miles from Silver Lake in Hollis, NH and we had warnings of this when I was a kid.  When this happened, I just stayed on the shore and made sand castles.