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Are you LakeSmart?
Take the NH Lakes Lake-Friendly Living self assessment to ensure that future generations inherit a lake with a healthy future. This is a 15 minute, online survey after which you will be sent a report with suggestions on how to improve your property for the health of the lake. You can also request a 1-hour follow up visit to your property as the next step towards the LakeSmart Award. This is a perfect opportunity to get input and suggestions for your property, especially if you are looking to make changes to landscaping or hardscaping. Visit our LakeSmart page for more information.
Water Quality Testing
To ensure the cleanliness and health of Sunset Lake, the SLA has performed water quality testing annually since 1984. Visit our Water Quality Testing page to learn more about the testing and results. See the Beach Information section below about bacteria testing at the Hampstead town beach.
Beach Information
The SLA does not own or manage the Hampstead Town Beach and does not maintain responsibility for the public beach or its usage. The following information is provided to the SLA community as a courtesy.
The Hampstead Town Beach is on Ells Road off of Kent Farm Road, is owned by the Town of Hampstead, and managed by the Recreation Commission. The beach is open to town residents and the public. Parking at the beach requires a beach permit sticker available for purchase at the Hampstead Town Hall. Cars parked without beach stickers should be reported to the Hampstead Police Department at 603-329-5700.
NHDES monitors bacteria at fresh water beaches in NH and provides advisories when appropriate. The town lists advisories on their Water Testing page and you can also subscribe to get town email notifications. The SLA refers all inquiries about bacteria counts and beach closings to NHDES and the Hampstead Recreation Commission.
More information about the town beach, beach permits, and current advisories are available at hampsteadnh.us and Hampstead Recreation.
Fishing Information
Fishing is a favorite past time on Sunset Lake and is popular in all seasons, including ice fishing in the winter. Visit wildlife.nh.gov for the latest information about dates and seasons, rules, regulations, licenses, etc. Sunset Lake is not stocked with fish, but native fish in the lake include Large Mouth Bass, Small Mouth Bass, Eastern Chain Pickerel, Brown Bullhead (Horned Pout), and Yellow Perch. Shop Pond across Main Street is stocked with ~500 Trout in the spring for the kid's fishing derby and many Trout remain after the event ends.
Note that the use of lead sinkers and jigs with a total weight of one ounce or less has been illegal since 2016. Loons and other water birds can die from lead poisoning after swallowing lead tackle lost by fisherman. Visit the NH Fish Lead Free Law web page or fishleadfree.org for more information.
Boating Information
There is no public boat launch on Sunset Lake. Launching is available at the Hampstead Town Beach for those with waterfront property, right of way, or deeded access to the lake and is controlled by a locked gate and is seasonally restricted to certain hours. Non-motorized vessels (i.e. canoes, kayaks, paddleboards) can be launched via the beach as long as no swimmers or sunbathers are disturbed. Visit our Boating Information page for more information about launching, permits, and rules and regulations for boating on the lake.
Dam and Water Level Information
The SLA maintains the lake water level through monitoring weather conditions and adjusting the dam. The water level is drawn down annually, typically starting Columbus Day, to minimize winter ice damage to shorefronts, to reduce the chance of flooding during the spring thaw, and so that property owners can perform fall and winter shoreline maintenance. All boards are removed from the dam in the fall and the culvert below the dam is opened. How low the lake water level gets is ultimately dependent upon mother nature. The SLA starts to raise the water level in the spring by closing the culvert and adding boards back to the dam as soon as the ice is gone. The water level and weather are carefully monitored to avoid flooding during this process. The water level is typically back to summer levels by mid to late May. The SLA recommends performing shorefront maintenance in the fall and winter since the ice-out date varies per year (as can be seen at the bottom of this page) and it is important that the dam is closed at ice-out to give the best chance of the lake filling by the end of May.
Lakeside Landscaping
As members of the Sunset Lake community, using appropriate lakeside landscaping practices is one of the primary ways we can help prevent degradation and possibly even improve the Sunset Lake water quality. There are New Hampshire laws governing certain aspects of landscaping at the water's edge including building and maintaining retaining walls and beaches. Visit our Lakeside Landscaping page for more information.
Invasive Species
Invasive plant and animal species can have a detrimental effect to the quality of a lake and can negatively affect property values. As an association, we take a proactive approach in monitoring our lake for invasive species. Visit our Invasive Species page for more information.
Campfires, Fire Pits, and Burning
Campfires, Fire Pits, Chimineas, and brush burning are allowed around Sunset Lake. However, an annual permit must be obtained each year from the Hampstead Fire Department and you must call the fire department at 603-329-6006 each day that you wish to have a fire. Visit the Hampstead Fire Department burning permit page for more information and rules and regulations. Please be sure to have your fire away from the water's edge with no burn debris entering the lake.
Sunset Lake Ice In/Out Dates
We have been recording the ice in/out dates since 2007 and these dates are shown in the table above. There are various ways to judge ice-in/out: we use an ice-in date when the lake is 80% covered with ice and an ice-out date when the lake is 80% free of ice. The ice cover has little to do with the health of the lake or water quality, but rather is dependent upon the weather conditions for the particular season.
The 2015-2016 season was interesting since there were significant areas of open water at different times throughout the winter season. The last six seasons were interesting since they had at least 2 ice-in/out events with a total of 6 ice-in/out events in 2022-2023!
NOTE: These dates are fun to look at to see the impact of the weather on the lake ice over the years. However, these dates should in no way be used as an indication of when the ice on the lake may or may not be safe for human travel. Please use responsible practices for judging whether the ice is safe or not. Visit the NH Fish and Game Ice Fishing in NH page for more information on ice fishing, including articles on how to judge whether ice is safe for travel and other information on ice fishing safety and tips and tricks. Please also refer to the ice safety information below provided by NOAA:
