Tearing up Otter Lake Greenfield State Park
As a Peterborough resident living less than a mile from Greenfield State Park’s Otter Lake, I was appalled at the “Howler” speed boat racing event on Oct. 10 and 11.
For two days, 50 high-speed racing boats overwhelmed this quiet, trolling-speed-only lake. On a typical mid-October weekend, the last migrating birds and geese, basking turtles and fish are active. However, natural wildlife was absent; fishermen and kayakers were banned.
Up to 10 boats at a time tore across the lake at speeds up to 75 mph, requiring Peterborough Fire and Rescue standby. The result: deafening, high-frequency engine whine, shoreline wakes, and multiple hydroplane boats emitting layers of smoke as drivers pinned the throttle.
With an average depth of 11 feet, the ecology of this 135-acre lake was severely disrupted. Dumping exhaust and fuel residue into this sensitive ecosystem is ecologically irresponsible. While hydroplanes skim the surface, their high-RPM propellers churn up sediment, tear up native aquatic plant roots, and create turbidity that clogs fish gills.
Permanent signs at the boat ramp warn the public that introducing invasive aquatic species is illegal, mandating that all watercraft be cleaned, drained and dried. Yet, race drivers launched from a separate area with no visible, independent milfoil oversight. Why must local residents strictly obey environmental laws and boat speed limits while a massive powerboat event gets special treatment to bypass public visibility protocols?
The Greenfield selectmen who approved this event need to know their neighbors across the border and beyond care deeply, and regularly use this shared natural resource. Local leaders are expected to protect our public parks, enforce rules equitably and deny future permits for events that are unsuited to this fragile, shallow lake.