CONTENTS
(click on the topics below to
get more information)
NHEP
ACTIVITIES
6/2/03
- Shellfish Team Meeting
The
team discussed development of two requests for proposals (RFPs) to solicit
projects to restore and enhance shellfish resources. The RFPs (one for
clams and one for oysters) are being drafted by Phil Trowbridge and will be
released in Fall 2003 after review by the Shellfish Team.
6/8/03
- Blue Ocean’s "World Oceans Day"
The
NHEP participated in this one-day event at the Seacoast Science Center that
attracted visitors interested in local whale information, children’s
marine art activities and a book signing by author and nature photographer,
Andrew Martinez. Dave Kellam
staffed a NHEP booth that offered “Be Part of the Solution” posters and
other outreach materials. A
large percentage of the booth visitors were schoolteachers who were thankful
to have a NH Coastal Watershed poster to hang in their classrooms.
6/10/03
- Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
The
TAC discussed ways to answer questions raised by the environmental
indicators. The group brainstormed ways to better monitor the effects of
increasing nitrogen loads in the bay, identify sources of contaminants to
the harbors, and illustrate ecosystem connectivity. The NHEP Coastal
Scientist will use the ideas from the TAC to devise the monitoring program
for 2004.
6/10/03
- Pew Oceans Report Press Conference
Organized
by the NH Chapter of the National Environmental Trust, this event offered
the media the opportunity to find out how the highly publicized Pew
Oceans Report, “America's Living Oceans: Charting
a Course for Sea Change”, relates to local coastal issues.
Speakers included Wendy Lull (Seacoast Science Center), Jan
Pendlebury (National Environmental Trust - NH Chapter), Verna Delauer (NH
Coastal Program), Dave Kellam and Dr. Andy Rosenberg (Former Deputy Director
of the National Marine Fisheries Service).
All of the major NH media organizations were present and stories ran
in the Foster’s Democrat, Portsmouth
Herald and NH Public Radio.
6/16/03
- Management Committee Meeting
Highlights
of the meeting included the appointment of Peter Britz (City of Portsmouth)
as Chair of the Management Committee, Fall Outreach Updates, a lengthy
discussion about funding the connection of a sewer line to three homes on
Spur Road in Dover and a review of the Year 8 Workplan.
6/24/03
- Minimizing the Impacts of Development on Water Quality Workshop
Hosted
by the Exeter River Advisory Committee this community workshop was the
beginning of a project to offer each town in the Exeter River Watershed
assistance in understanding development plans and making changes to
regulations and proposals that will minimize the impact of the development
on the region’s water quality.
The introductory presentation was given by Steve Miller (GBNERR),
Carolyn Russell (NH DES), and Theresa Walker (RPC).
NHEP representatives Jennifer Hunter and Dave Kellam attended the
workshop.
6/25/03
- NROC Somersworth Presentation
Dave
Kellam attended this introductory presentation to the Town of Somersworth in
their City Hall. The meeting
was very well attended by Planning Board members and Conservation
Commissioners. The audience was
surprised to learn that Somersworth was the 5th most densely
populated town in New Hampshire and they were eager to learn how to minimize
the impacts of future development.
6/26/03
- Year 8 Workplan Submitted to EPA
NEW
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS –
go to the publications
page of the NHEP website for complete listing
6/3/03
- Testing of Great Bay Oysters for Two Protozoan Pathogens: Final report
Samples
collected annually since 1995 were analyzed to reveal that two protozoan
parasites (MSX and Dermo) are widely distributed within the Great Bay oyster
stock. Severity of infection
and prevalence vary from site to site and over time at a specific site.
The year 2002 oyster tests show continued presence of MSX at all
beds. Dermo was seen after a
five year absence in oysters from all beds except the Oyster River.
Call the NHEP office (433-7187) to request copies.
6/26/03
- NH Department of Environmental Services Shellfish Program Activities,
January 2002 – June 2003: Final
report
The
NHDES Shellfish Program conducted a number of activities to minimize the
health risks associated with consuming shellfish, and to continue to comply
with National Shellfish Sanitation Program guidelines. Program activities
included routine water quality monitoring (more than 700 samples collected
at over 70 sites in 2002), “red tide” monitoring at two sites (49 weekly
samples in 2002), and pollution source identification and evaluation (233
properties inspected, and 106 new potential pollution sources identified in
2002). A particularly useful
sampling program has been the initiation of post-rainfall water and
shellfish tissue sampling in conditionally approved areas.
This program improved management decisions and increased harvesting
opportunities in Hampton/Seabrook Harbor by eight days (13 percent) in 2002.
Sanitary surveys were completed for the Taylor River, Hampton Falls
River, and Oyster River during the project period, resulting in opening of
almost 350 acres of previously–closed growing waters.
Surveys are well underway in Great Bay, Little Bay, Hampton/Seabrook
Harbor, and the Bellamy River, while surveys have been initiated in other
areas such as the Cocheco River, Salmon Falls River, and the Upper
Piscataqua River. Call the NHEP office (433-7187) to request copies.
NHEP
UPCOMING EVENTS –
go to the Events
page of the
NHEP website for complete listing
Management
Committee Structure Subcommittee Meeting –
July 21, 9:00 am, Portsmouth City Hall
Rapid
Assessment Survey of Invasive Marine Species – August 3
Technical
Advisory Committee Meeting – August 18, 1:00 pm, NH Fish and Game, Durham
Estuaries
Month – September 27 – October 25
In
June applications were sent out for this annual program, which grants $200
to organizations to conduct estuarine outreach activities in the Coastal
Watershed. Currently only three
applications have been submitted. Interested
applicants are encouraged to review the program description at the NHEP
website or contact Matt Craig at 433-7187 for more
information.
Estuaries
Expo –
Saturday, October 18, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, Urban Forestry Center
How
healthy are New Hampshire’s estuaries?
This question will be answered during the NH Estuaries Expo:
a free public event that features estuarine scientists explaining the
environmental status of the State’s bays and related resources.
In addition to learning about current research, participants can also
enjoy a free lunch and a variety of brief presentations, such as a shellfish
cooking demonstration, a nature walk along Sagamore Creek, and an up-close
look at a live bald eagle! This event is a great way to learn how to become
involved in the community-based effort to improve the health of our
estuaries.
2003
State of the Estuaries Conference –
Monday and Tuesday, October 20 & 21, Yoken’s
Conference Center
A
technical conference examining key environmental health indicators of New
Hampshire’s estuarine systems. This
conference is a joint effort between the NHEP and the Great Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve. Conference
registration forms will be available in July.
