September 2004, #17 

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

NHEP ACTIVITIES  

8/12/04 - Marine Discharge Seminar

Dave Kellam attended the NHEP-funded “Marine No Discharge Zone” seminar held at the Wentworth Marina in New Castle on Thursday, August 12. The public seminar, organized by the Great Bay Coast Watch, featured presentations by Ann Rodney from the US EPA New England and Jody Connor and Alicia Carlson from NH DES. 

8/16/04 - Casco Bay Coordination Meeting  

Jennifer Hunter and Dave Kellam met with EPA representatives and staff from the Casco Bay Estuary Program to learn more about each other's programs and to discuss possibilities for future collaboration. Discussion included work plan development, reporting requirements, financing and generating match for projects, and outreach strategies. Staff discussed project activities related to areas of interest for both programs, including stormwater management, habitat protection and restoration, shellfish research, and stewardship. 

8/19/04 - Dedication Ceremony with Senator Gregg 

Jennifer Hunter attended a dedication ceremony on the shores of Sagamore Creek in Portsmouth that honored Senator Judd Gregg, the City of Portsmouth, and the Seacoast Land Trust for their roles in protecting the Sagamore Headlands area from development. The event was organized by the Trust for Public Land.  Contact Jennifer Hunter for details.

8/19/04 - Wetland Mitigation Inventory Presentation to Rye Conservation Commission

Dave Kellam assisted with a presentation by Dr. Leonard Lord of Carex Environmental on a NHEP-funded report, entitled "Freshwater Wetlands Mitigation Inventory for Nineteen Coastal Communities" (.pdf/ 3.5MB), that identifies six sites in the town of Rye that would benefit from upland protection, wetland restoration or wetland creation.  The report provides planning officials with a convenient list of sites to direct wetland mitigation efforts. The presentation is part of a series designed to present an overview of the customized reports to each town or city in the study area. Contact Dave Kellam for details.

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8/23/04 - Freshwater Wetland Protection and Restoration Proposal Review Meeting

Phil Trowbridge met with a review panel consisting of Management Committee members and other local experts to evaluate proposals for the Freshwater Wetland Protection and Restoration grant program. The winning proposals will be announced in early September. Contact Phil Trowbridge for details. 

8/24/04 - Wetland Mitigation Inventory Presentation to Hampton Conservation Commission

Dave Kellam assisted Mark West of West Environmental in a presentation to the Hampton Conservation Commission on the NHEP-funded report entitled “Freshwater Wetlands Mitigation Inventory for Nineteen Coastal Communities” (.pdf/ 3.5MB).  This presentation is part of a series of report presentations to all 19 communities in the report's study area.  Contact Dave Kellam for details.

8/30/04 - NHEP Reporting the EPA

Jennifer Hunter submitted a number of required annual reports to EPA. Reports included information on action plan completion from the CCMP, habitat acres protected or restored, matching funds generated, and status of monitoring programs. Over the last year, NHEP funds generated over $1,862,000 in matching funds to be counted toward federal requirements, and the program helped protect 1,158 acres of land through its Coastal Watershed Land Protection Transaction Fund.

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NEW PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS  All publications can be viewed at the NHEP website

8/25/04 -  Evaluating the Stormwater Treatment Performance of AbTech Industries Smart Sponge® Plus in Seabrook, New Hampshire

The University of New Hampshire and the NH Department of Environmental Services evaluated the ability of AbTech’s Smart Sponge® Plus to remove fecal-borne bacteria from stormwater in a storm drainage system located in Seabrook, New Hampshire. The Smart Sponge® Plus was installed into a water quality inlet and samples were collected from influent (pre-treatment) and effluent (post-treatment) for analysis of bacterial concentrations and loadings during 15 storm events from September 3, 2003 to May 24, 2004, excluding winter months. The 15 storms included events with a range of rainfall intensities and amounts, as well as accompanying runoff volumes. Flow-weighted composite samples were analyzed for fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and enterococci to determine if concentrations were lowered as stormwater passed through the Smart Sponge® Plus material. In most cases, bacterial concentrations were reduced within the treatment system, but to varying degrees. The efficiency ratio based on reduction in event mean concentration for each bacterial indicator in the flow was calculated for each storm event. The values ranged most widely for fecal coliforms, whereas the range of ratios was narrower and the values were more consistent for enterococci. The overall load reductions for the bacterial indicators were 50.3% for fecal coliforms, 51.3% for Escherichia coli and 43.2% for enterococci. Overall, the observed reductions in bacterial concentrations in post-treatment stormwater would still result in discharge of elevated bacterial levels that would continue to limit uses in receiving waters. Read the Report (.pdf/1.8MB)

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 Projects Starting   

8/01/04 - Stratham's Conservation Easement Outreach Project 

This project is a result of the Natural Resources Outreach Coalition (NROC) Community Implementation grant program. The purpose of this project is to provide Stratham landowners and residents with current information on conservation easements and acquisitions to generate further interest in these activities. This will be accomplished through the production and distribution of an informational pamphlet and a conservation easement workbook for landowners. Contact Dave Kellam for details.

8/05/04 - Impervious Surface Outreach Project to All 42 Coastal Watershed Communities

This project is an extension of the data presented in the NHEP's "2003 State of the Estuaries Report".  Each planning board and conservation commission in the 42 coastal watershed communities will receive a packet of information about impervious surface in their town or city.   The packets will include a laminated map of impervious surface cover in the community, a summary sheet on the impacts of impervious surfaces on water resources, a summary of training programs provided by the Natural Resources Outreach Coalition, and contact information for the regional planning commission that services their area.  Contact Dave Kellam for details.

8/16/04 - Dover's Land Conservation Outreach and Documentation Project

This project is a result of the Natural Resources Outreach Coalition (NROC) Community Implementation grant program.  The purpose of this project is to increase community support for land conservation and increase the ability of the Dover Planning Department to document conservation easements. This will be accomplished through the completion of three informational programs, photo documentation of conservation lands, purchase of planning texts, and printing of resource maps. Contact Dave Kellam for details.

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NHEP UPCOMING EVENTS  

9/16/04  - NH Shellfish Resources, Seminar, 6-8 pm, Ashworth Hotel, Hampton Beach
This seminar, organized by the Great Bay Coast Watch with funding from the NHEP, will examine recent changes in NH's shellfish populations and will highlight current research.  Contact Ann Reid, GBCW, for details.

9/17/04 -Technical Advisory Committee meeting, 1-3pm, (Location TBD)
The TAC will discuss emerging issues for monitoring and research in the estuary, and will develop a recommendation for NHEP monitoring in 2005. Contact Phil Trowbridge for details. 

9/18/04 - International Coastal Cleanup, sponsored by the New Hampshire Coastal Program and Waste Management, Inc, 11 am - 2pm, at several coastal beaches & waterways
To volunteer, please contact Mary Power before September 10, 2004.

9/19/04 - V.I.P. Tours of the Great Bay Estuary, 2-5pm, Fishermen's Coop, Portsmouth
This special tour for planning board members, conservation commissioners, and other local planning officials will feature guest presentations by Steve Jones (University of New Hampshire), Steve Miller (Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve) and Bob Miller (The Nature Conservancy).  Guest speakers will discuss current NHEP projects, collaboration opportunities and technical assistance programs.  Please register by contacting Dave Kellam before September 15, 2004.

9/20/04 - NHEP Offices Move 
The NHEP office will move to its new location in the NH DES Coastal Office.  Please note the new mailing address is  50 International Drive, Suite 200, Pease Tradeport, Portsmouth, NH 03801.  The new telephone number for the program is NH Estuaries Project (603)559-1500.  The direct telephone numbers for Jennifer Hunter (559-0020) and Dave Kellam (559-0022) will remain the same. 

9/22/04 - Seacoast Stormwater Coalition Meeting, 1-3pm, NHDOT building, Durham
This meeting includes a presentation by Phil Trowbridge on the  impervious surface maps and information sheets that the NHEP is distributing to coastal watershed towns.  Contact Phil Trowbridge for details. 

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9/25/04 - National Estuaries Day 

9/25/04 - V.I.P. Tours of the Great Bay Estuary, 9am-Noon, Fishermen's Coop, Portsmouth
This special tour on National Estuaries Day for planning board members, conservation commissioners, and other local planning officials will feature guest presentations by Dave Burdick (University of New Hampshire), Rob Roseen  (University of New Hampshire), Brian Smith (Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve) and Duane Hyde (The Nature Conservancy). Guest speakers will discuss current NHEP projects, collaboration opportunities and technical assistance programs.  Please register by contacting Dave Kellam before September 15, 2004.

9/30/04 - Management Committee Meeting, 9am-Noon, Portsmouth City Hall, Portsmouth 
 Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

10/04/04  - "Improving Site Planning for Sustainable Development" , Workshop, 7- 9pm, Alumni Center - Room 1925, University of New Hampshire, Durham 
 This workshop will include presentations on cluster development in Dover, conservation subdivisions, site design techniques to reduce impervious surface, and new municipal impervious surface maps and outreach materials created by the NHEP.   Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

10/19 - 10/21/04  - Fall Meeting of the Association National Estuary Programs, Corpus Christi, Texas
Jennifer Hunter and Dave Kellam will attend this meeting.  contact Dave Kellam for more information.

10/26/04  - Local Grants Selection Committee Meeting, NHEP Office, Portsmouth
  Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

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