November 2004, #19 

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

NHEP ACTIVITIES  

10/04/04 - Impervious Surface Workshop and Distribution of Outreach Materials

The NHEP participated in a workshop organized by the Rockingham Planning Commission that included a number of presentations on land use change and ways to minimize impacts of growth on water resources. Phil Trowbridge presented information on impervious surfaces and described the maps developed for each community. Following the presentations, the NHEP distributed information packets to each planning board and conservation commission in the 42 coastal watershed communities. Each packet included a customized cover letter that identified town-specific levels of impervious cover, a laminated map of impervious surfaces and other features 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, contact information for the regional planning commission that services their area, and additional technical information from the Center for Watershed Protection.  Other presentations included "Forty Years of Land Use Change in Rockingham and Strafford Counties" by Fay Rubin, of UNH Complex Systems Research Center and Bill Salas of Applied GeoSolutions, "Dover’s Success with Cluster Development" by Dover Planning Board Chair Ron Cole, "The Value and Benefits of Conservation Subdivisions" by Eric Chinburg of Chinburg Builders, and "Review of Regulatory and Site Design Techniques to Reduce Impervious Surface" by Carolyn Russell of DES and Steve Miller of the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more details. 

10/4, 10/11, 10/12, 10/13, 10/14 - Freshwater Mitigation Inventory Presentations

Jennifer Hunter and Dave Kellam assisted Mark West and Lenny Lord during five presentations to Conservation Commissions to introduce the "Freshwater Wetland Mitigation Inventory" report for their town.  These presentations were the last of a nineteen town presentation tour.   Contact Dave Kellam for details. 

10/8/04 Meeting with Senator Gregg’s Project Director for NH

Jennifer Hunter attended a meeting with Matt Leahy, Senator Gregg’s Project Director for Southern and Western New Hampshire. The meeting was held at the Seacoast Science Center and attended by representatives from a number of coastal resource management and conservation organizations. Jennifer described the NHEP to Matt Leahy and highlighted upcoming projects. Following the meeting, attendees toured the new facilities and exhibits at the Science Center. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more details. 

10/08/04 - Draft Report Released: Total Maximum Daily Load Study for Bacteria in Little Harbor

NHDES released this draft report on controlling bacteria loads in the Harbor for public comments. Some of the field study that collected data on which the report findings and recommendations are based was funded by the NHEP. The draft report and instructions on how to submit public comments can be obtained from the NHDES website (www.des.state.nh.us/wmb/TMDL/). Questions on the report can be directed to Phil Trowbridge at (603) 271-8872. 

10/08/04 - Environmental Indicators RFP Released

The NHEP released a Request for Proposals for projects to develop new environmental indicators for estuarine eutrophication, bacteria and toxic contaminant loads from stormwater, or marine invasive species. Proposals are due November 12, 2004. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more details. 

10/12/04 - Natural Resource Outreach Coalition (NROC) Facilitation Meeting

Dave Kellam attended this meeting designed to improve NROC implementation by incorporating facilitation techniques. Contact Dave Kellam for details. 

10/19 - 10/21/04 - Fall Meeting of the Association of National Estuary Programs

Jennifer Hunter and Dave Kellam attended the fall meeting of the Association of National Estuary Programs in Corpus Christi, Texas. Conference subjects included national estuarine communication strategy, reporting, environmental monitoring, and legislative updates.   Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

10/26/04  - Local Grants Selection Committee Meeting

The Local Grants Review Team discussed nine proposals that were received in response to this year’s Local Grants Request for Proposals. The Team's recommendations were forwarded to the NHEP Management Committee and the NH DES Commissioner for approval.  Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

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

10/1/04 - Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Reef Mapping in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire - 2003 

In 2003, the University of New Hampshire mapped two major oyster reefs in the Great Bay Estuary: Squamscott River and Piscataqua River. Underwater videography was used to determine the boundaries of these two reefs and still images were used to classify "shell bottom" into two density classes: "low" (10% to 50% bottom coverage by oyster shell) and "high" (>50% bottom coverage by oyster shell). This study will help the researchers develop a general protocol for routine monitoring of oyster reefs that will utilize underwater video along with several acoustics techniques and quadrat sampling.  Read the report (.pdf/876KB)

10/22/04 - Land Conservation General Fund:  Matching Grants for Transaction Costs 

The Center of Land Conservation Assistance administered grant funds provided by the NHEP to assist municipalities and conservation organization with land protection transaction costs. Between May of 2002 and December of 2003, twenty-three grants were made to support transaction costs associated with projects that provided permanent protection for 1158 acres in 9 coastal watershed communities. Grant funds of $57,141 leveraged over $187,657 of additional transaction funding from 15 other sources. The value of the land protected is over $6.6 million.  Read the Report (.pdf/166KB)

 

 Projects Starting   

10/06/04 - Newmarket Conservation Easement Outreach Project  

The Town of Newmarket will encourage community awareness about conservation activities by producing and installing three large carved wooden signs and educational kiosks on three conservation easements recently acquired by the Town of Newmarket as part of their comprehensive conservation outreach plan.  The town will also update its GIS conservation lands data layer to include parcel specific information on access, easement information, use restrictions, and natural resources for each of the three new parcels. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

 

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NHEP UPCOMING EVENTS  

11/08/04 - Land Protection and Estate Planning Workshops, 7 - 9pm,  Exeter, NH 
Attorney Charles Tucker of Donahue, Tucker and Ciandella  will describe the impact of recent changes in federal law regarding land conservation and estate planning.  Also, Extension Educator Phil Auger will discuss a variety of land protection options available to landowners. This workshop is organized by the Rockingham Land Trust and funded by a grant from NHEP. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

11/15/04 - Preserving Rural Character through Open Space Subdivisions, 7 - 9pm, Council Chambers, City Hall, 288 Central Avenue, Dover, NH 
Robert Baldwin of Qroe Farm, will lead this workshop that describes how to balance human and natural resources needs through the creation of residential areas that conserve more than 80 percent of environmentally important open space. The workshop is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is encouraged. For more information call 603-516-6008 or email openlands@ci.dover.nh.us 

11/16/04 - Land Protection and Estate Planning Workshops, 7 - 9pm,  Sandown, NH 
Attorney Charles Tucker of Donahue, Tucker and Ciandella  will describe the impact of recent changes in federal law regarding land conservation and estate planning.  Also, Extension Educator Phil Auger will discuss a variety of land protection options available to landowners. This workshop is organized by the Rockingham Land Trust and funded by a grant from NHEP. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

12/01/04 - NHEP Shellfish and Living Resources Team Meeting, 1-3pm, NH DES Coastal Office, Portsmouth, NH
  Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

12/09/04 - Management Committee Meeting, 9am-Noon, NH DES - Coastal Office, Portsmouth, NH 
 Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

1/12/05 - NHEP POET Meeting, 9 - 11am, NH DES - Coastal Office, Portsmouth, NH
  Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

3/16/05 - NHEP POET Meeting, NH DES, 9 - 11am, Location TBD 
  Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

3/6 - 3/10/05 -  Annual Meeting of National Estuary Programs, Washington, DC
  Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

 

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