February 2005, #22 

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

NHEP ACTIVITIES  

1/12/05 - NHEP POET Meeting 

Septic system outreach was the primary issue of the meeting. Strategies to communicate septic system maintenance information and innovative septic system designs were discussed – including town newsletters and Community Access TV. Several groups were identified as potential partners for septic system outreach activities, including the Seacoast Home Builders Association and DES Household Hazardous Waste program. Planning for the “Eye on Our Estuaries” series included identifying topics for the next 3-4 articles and seeking guest writers in the field of the topic. Outreach materials to other media was discussed, including low power radio, free newspapers, town newsletters, and a brief “factoid” series to other papers.   Contact Dave Kellam for more information. 

1/19/05 - House Committee Hearing on HB 148

Jennifer Hunter attended the public hearing and provided testimony to the House Resources, Recreation, and Development Committee on House Bill 148 that authorizes the transfer of the NHEP from the Department of Environmental Services to the University of New Hampshire. The Committee unanimously approved the bill’s passage with an amendment to make the effective date of the transfer upon passage. The full House subsequently approved the bill on January 26, 2005. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information. 

1/21/05 - NHEP Receives Donation from FPL Energy Seabrook Station

FPL Energy Seabrook Station made its annual contribution to the NHEP. This year the power station donated $12,000 to support NHEP efforts.  Read Press Release (.pdf/67KB).   Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information. 

1/26/05 - Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan

Phil Trowbridge participated in the kick-off meeting for the NH State Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan that was organized by the NH Department of Environmental Services. The NHEP will play a lead role in developing the estuarine portion of the plan. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

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

1/3/05 - Wetlands Assessment, Inventory, and Prime Wetlands Designation Project in the Taylor River Watershed

This project inventoried freshwater wetland systems adjacent to the Taylor River in Hampton and Hampton Falls in order to designate these systems as Prime Wetlands by both towns. Education and outreach to abutters was conducted to promote an understanding of Prime Wetland Designation. Read Report Summary (.pdf/4.7MB). Read Wetland Inventory (.pdf/15MB)

1/21/05 - 2003 Coastal Illicit Connection Identification and Elimination Grant Project

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) received NHEP funds in 2003 to administer grants to coastal municipalities to eliminate illicit discharges into their storm drainage systems. This final report describes the three projects that were funded under this grant, which were in Dover, Somersworth, and Hampton, and involved eliminating sewage discharges into storm drainage systems from houses, apartment buildings, and commercial buildings. All of these efforts helped improve water quality in the coastal area by reducing pollution.  Read Report (.pdf/726KB)

1/21/05 - 2003 Coastal Municipal Stormwater Infrastructure Mapping Project

NHDES received funds in 2003 from the NHEP to provide assistance to coastal communities to develop storm sewer infrastructure maps. This final report describes the grant projects that were completed in Farmington, Dover, Durham, Seabrook, Somersworth, and North Hampton. Read Report (.pdf/151KB)

1/21/05 - 2003 Oxford Avenue Sewer Extension Project in the City of Portsmouth

Funds assisted with the installation of a new sewer line at Oxford Avenue that replaced the septic systems for fourteen homes that bordered the Great Bog and Pickering Creek watersheds. The construction occurred during the fall of 2004. Read Report (.pdf/285KB)

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1/21/05 - NHDES Shellfish Program Activities, Jan - Dec 2004 

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. Read Report (.pdf/2.7MB)

1/21/05 - Natural Resources Outreach Coalition: Coordination and Program Delivery

In 2004, the Natural Resources Outreach Coallition (NROC) worked with three new client communities: Chester, East Kingston and Strafford . 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. At the same time, NROC continued to work with three previous NROC communities (Somersworth, Nottingham and Candia). Read Report (.pdf/429KB).

1/24/05 - Dover Natural Resource Mapping and Community Outreach Initiative 

The Dover Open Space Committee organized activities at three events in Dover: Apple Harvest Day Festival Information Booth (10/2/04), Fall Foliage Walk (10/16/04), and Preserving Rural Character Through Open Space Subdivisions Workshop (11/15/04). Maps were printed and distributed at the Apple Harvest Festival and through direct mailings to Dover citizens. Approximately 900 maps were printed. The Open Space Committee conducted site walks and took many photos of properties. A land conservation library and bookshelf was created in the Dover Planning Department.  Read Report (.pdf/5.8MB).

1/24/05 - 2004 Support for Shellfish Program and Estuarine Education 

The Great Bat Coast Watch (GBCW) volunteers provided transportation for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) tissue samples for the NHDES Shellfish Program (8 trips from Star Island, 22 trips from Seacoast to Concord). Also, GBCW conducted two workshops: "Marine No-Discharge Public Forum" (8/12/04) and "Status of New Hampshire Shellfish Resources" (9/16/04). Read Report (.pdf/1MB).

1/25/05 - Laboratory Analyses of Water and Shellfish from Coastal Waters and Watershed of New Hampshire

This NH Department of Health and Human Services report provides results of 2004 shellfish water monitoring bacterial analyses, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) analyses and shellfish meat testing for bacterial contamination.  Read Report (.pdf/191KB).

1/26/05 - Data Collection for the Seacoast Groundwater Sustainability Study 

The NHEP provided partial funding for the initial phase of the Seacoast Groundwater Sustainability Study. The NH Geological Survey, along with project partners, completed initial tasks of the “data collection” phase of the overall, multi-year project. Data collection activities included data mining activities, well inventories, and water use surveys in the study area. Read the initial report on data collection (.pdf/199KB). For updates on the study, visit the USGS website http://nh.water.usgs.gov/CurrentProjects/seacoast/index.htm or DES Coastal Program website http://des.nh.gov/Coastal/Restoration/groundwater.htm.   

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Projects Starting   

12/15/04 Prime Wetlands Study and Outreach in Hampton and Hampton Falls
Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

12/15/04 Wetlands Protection in Little River Park in Lee, NH
Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

1/12/05 - Development and Monitoring of Revegetation Methods at Awcomin Marsh in Rye, NH

Dr. Dave Burdick of the University of New Hampshire will develop and monitor revegetation methods at Awcomin Marsh with the field assistance of local high school students. The students will evaluate work conducted in 2005 as well as evaluate progress of a restoration site established in 2002. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

1/21/05 Freshwater Wetlands Protection by Acquisition of a Conservation Easement on Bald Hill Road in Newfields, NH
Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

1/21/05 - Oyster Reef Restoration Project in Dover
Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

1/26/05 Shellfish Program Support by the Department of Health and Human Services
The NHEP is providing funds to DHHS to conduct water quality and meat testing to support the DES Shellfish Program in 2005. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

1/26/05 - Education Programming in Exeter and Dover Aboard the Captain Edward Adams Gundalow 

The Gundalow Company will conduct environmental education in Exeter and Dover. The 2005 grant pays for planning, towing of the gundalow and printing of 10,000 brochures. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

1/26/05 - Land Protection, Management, and Habitat Restoration Plan for The Great Bog

The Seacoast Land Trust will develop “The Great Bog Management and Restoration Plan” which will include evaluation of the hydrologic environment, bog habitats, and public involvement with protection efforts.  The plan will provide guidance for management of wetland and upland invasive species, upland protection priorities, wetland and associated upland restoration, and public recreation. The study area will include a 193-acre conserved parcel, 100 acres of abutting land owned by the City of Portsmouth, and several large parcels held by private landowners that immediately abut The Great Bog. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

 

 

 

NHEP UPCOMING EVENTS  

3/16/05 - NHEP POET Meeting,  9 - 11am, NHDES Coastal Office 
  Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

3/24/05 - NHEP Management Committee Meeting,  9 - Noon, NH DES Coastal Office 
  Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

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

4/5/05 - Shellfish and Living Resources Team Meeting, 1-3pm, NH DES Coastal Office
Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

4/19/05 - NHEP Technical Advisory Committee, 1-3pm, NH DES Coastal Office
Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

5/4/05 - NHEP POET Meeting,  9 - 11am, Location TBD 
  Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

 

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