January  2004, #9 

CONTENTS (click on the topics below to get more information)

NHEP ACTIVITIES

12/8/03 -  Local Grants Review and Selection Meeting

The Local Grants Review and Selection Team met to review eleven proposals submitted to the annual grant program.  After discussing and objectively rating all proposals, nine were selected.  An announcement of grant recipients will be made in January.  

12/9/03 -  Natural Resources Outreach Coalition (NROC) Meeting

An update of current NROC communities (Somersworth, Candia, Nottingham) was followed by presentation on the 2004 plan to work with Chester, East Kingston and Strafford.  Other subjects included revision to the NROC presentation, an update from the Regulatory Subcommittee and a discussion of the evaluation plan for NROC.  

12/18/03 -  Management Committee Meeting

The meeting at the Urban Forestry Center included approval of the Executive Committee at-large members, update on NHEP projects, discussion of procedure to reallocate liquidated funds and a presentation by Mark West, of West Environmental, about the Inventory of Wetlands Restoration and Protection Opportunities, a project funded by the NHEP.

12/31/03 -  Shellfish Research Projects Announced

The NHEP selected two shellfish research projects for funding from its 2003 Shellfish Research Request for Proposals.  Dr. Brian Beal of the University of Maine at Machais will conduct another study of softshell clam populations in the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary. This project will pick up where his previous NHEP-funded study left off and will provide additional information on why juvenile clams are not surviving into adulthood.  Dr. Ray Grizzle of University of New Hampshire was selected to conduct research on using man-made reefs for oyster bed restoration in Great Bay. Both projects are scheduled to begin in March 2004 and will end in December 2005.

12/31/03 -  New NHEP Website 

A new NHEP website is now available with a fresh new look that features online access to all NHEP reports since 2002, archived “Estuaries Updates” and updated information on NHEP activities and programs.  Click here to view the new home page.

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NEW PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS – go to the publications page of the NHEP website for complete listing

12/18/03 -  Natural Resources Outreach Coalition Program Delivery in 2003

The report, prepared by UNH Cooperative Extension, describes NROC support of seven communities during 2003, including three new client communities, Somersworth, Candia and Nottingham. All three communities received NROC’s "Dealing with Growth" educational presentation, customized for each community, followed by a series of follow-up meetings in each community to address issues raised in the presentation and community concerns about growth and natural resources. NROC continued to work with four previous NROC communities. NROC presented two educational workshops on land conservation and facilitated a discussion session for Dover, at their request. The NROC team provided continued assistance to the three Squamscott communities, Exeter, Stratham and Newfields, with their implementation grant projects.   Read Report (.pdf/342KB)

12/31/03 -  2002 Coastal Municipal Stormwater Infrastructure Mapping Project

In January 2002, DES issued a request for proposals (RFP) to all communities within Zone A of the coastal watershed announcing the availability of funds for storm drainage system mapping. Grants were awarded to Portsmouth and Seabrook to complete mapping projects. Portsmouth completed field investigations which resulted in mapping of over 4,000 catch basins, over 1000 pipe inlets and outfalls, and approximately 500 drain manholes, encompassing 90% of the city’s storm sewer system. Seabrook hired a contractor to convert paper records into electronic data, use the town’s April 2001 aerial photographs to obtain surface utility data, compare those data against the digitized data, and identify areas where information was lacking. The town then identified 2 priority areas where data were lacking - Blackwater River and Hampton Harbor - to focus their field efforts and gather missing data to complete maps for those 2 areas.   Read Report (.pdf/3.8MB)

12/31/03 -  Natural Resources Mapping and Land Protection Prioritization for Greenland

Using Geographic Information Systems mapping and analysis, natural resource characteristics were mapped and land parcels were evaluated to determine conservation priorities within the town. Outreach activities were also carried out and planned to distribute information to town decision makers, landowners and citizens and to share the results of the mapping process.   The purpose of the work was to help the Seacoast Land Trust and the Town of Greenland better identify land protection priorities in its service region and to foster greater involvement with municipalities. The ultimate end in the process is protection of land through conservation easements, conservation land donation or purchase and education of residents about its resources and the efforts being undertaken to protect critical open lands in the area.  Read Report (.pdf/113KB)

 

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NHEP UPCOMING EVENTS

1/12/04 - Gulf of Maine Media Strategy Meeting, Urban Forestry Center, 11:30 - 1:30

Contact Dave Kellam for details.

1/12/04 - Regional Outfall Study Commission Meeting, Hampton, NH

Contact Jennifer Hunter for details.

1/16/04 - Site Planning Roundtable Training (rescheduled)   Registration for this training is full

Contact Matt Craig for details.

1/27/04  -  Public Outreach & Education Team  Meeting, 10-12, Sandy Point Discovery Ctr  

Contact Dave Kellam for details.

2004 Septic System Workshops  

     2/18 at Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth
     3/15 at Dover Middle School, Dover  
     All programs begin at 7:00 PM

These septic system workshops are sponsored in part by a grant from the New Hampshire Coastal Program's Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program. Contact Matt Gatzke of Granite State Designers and Installers at (603)288-1231 or by e-mail at clough@choiceonemail.com.

3/7 - 3/11, 2004 -  Annual Meeting of National Estuary Programs, Washington, DC

Contact Jennifer Hunter for details.

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