March 2005, #23

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

NHEP ACTIVITIES  

2/08/05 - Land Resources Management Seminar 

Jennifer Hunter attended an all-day training conducted by DES to provide an overview of its regulatory programs, including the wetlands program, shoreland protection, subsurface, and site-specific programs. The seminar also included updates to regulations and rules. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

2/11/05 - Managing Estuarine Aquatic Nuisance Species

Phil Trowbridge coordinated an estuarine workgroup meeting to review a draft of the State Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

2/15/05 - Sea Grant PAC 

Jennifer Hunter attended the quarterly meeting of the NH Sea Grant Policy Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC discussed the development of Sea Grant’s next strategic plan. The PAC also identified various stakeholder groups that should be consulted as part of the planning process. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

2/16/05 - NHEP Attitudinal Study 

Dave Kellam met with Dr. Andy Smith, Director of the UNH Survey Center, and project manager Dennis Junius to finalize plans for the NHEP attitudinal study of Planning Boards and Conservation Commissions in the coastal watershed.  The surveys will be mailed in March and the Survey Center will enter the data and produce a report. Contact Dave Kellam for more information. 

2/17/05 - Cooperative Extension Meeting  

Jennifer Hunter met with Frank Mitchell and Amanda Stone to learn more about Cooperative Extension’s Community Conservation Assistance Program and to discuss the Natural Resources Outreach Coalition program in 2005 and 2006. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

2/22/05 - Senate Bill 70 Study Commission Meeting 

Jennifer Hunter attended a meeting of the Commission established to study wastewater management issues in the Seacoast. The meeting was held at Barrington Town Hall. The Commission elected a new chair (Sen. Hassan) and reviewed progress made by Metcalf and Eddy in completing the regional study of alternatives for wastewater management. Metcalf and Eddy reported that they have held several public meetings and were well into the data collection phase of their study. They have collected data from many state agencies and programs, but still need to collect data from communities. Metcalf and Eddy will be hosting a charette in early summer at which time participants will review 8 alternatives to address wastewater management. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

2/25/05 - Setting Up New UNH NHEP Office  

Dave Kellam met with Nancye Jenkins of UNH to set-up office communications for the NHEP on the UNH campus. When the office moves, the new mailing address will be New Hampshire Estuaries Project, University of New Hampshire, Hewitt Annex, 54 College Rd. Durham, NH 03824-2601.  Once the office moves the NHEP will issue a list of new staff email addresses and telephone and fax numbers. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

Back to Table of Contents

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

2/01/05 - Limiting Impervious Surface Cover and Protecting Water Resources through Better Site Design and Planning

The Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) conducted a workshop entitled “Improving Site Planning and Site Design for Sustainable Development”, which was held October 4, 2004 in Durham, New Hampshire. The RPC worked with the Strafford Regional Planning Commission to send workshop notices to members of Planning Boards, Conservation Commissions, and Zoning Boards of Adjustment in the 42 coastal watershed communities, as well as Road Agents, Town Planners, Town Engineers, Building Inspectors, Code Enforcement Officers, watershed and river organizations, and land developers. Fifty-five people attended the workshop which featured presentations. The second part of the project involved providing technical assistance to he Planning Boards in the communities of East Kingston, Greenland, and North Hampton to increase their understanding of how impervious surface impacts water resources and how local land use regulations can mitigate this impact. Read the Report (.pdf/3.2 MB)

2/03/05 - Ecological Inventory of the Cocheco River Watershed (Dover) and the Follet’s Brook Watershed (Durham, Newmarket, and Lee)

In this inventory, staff from The Nature Conservancy, the New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau and New Hampshire Audubon Society documented six rare plant species, three exemplary natural communities, and 49 wildlife species that are considered a priority for conservation and management. The results of the inventory will help direct conservation activities of the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership, local land trusts and towns by providing field data on significant wildlife habitat and ecological features. The inventory is comprised of three reports from each of the contributing agencies.   Read the Reports: Ecological Inventory of the Cocheco River Watershed (Dover) and Follet's Brook Watershed (Durham, Newmarket, and Lee) by The Nature Conservancy (.pdf/1.8MB), NH Natural Heritage Bureau, DRED (.pdf/5.5MB) and the New Hampshire Audubon Society (.pdf/356KB).

2/08/05 - 2004 Alewife Festival   

On June 5, 2004, the Exeter River Local Advisory Committee (ERLAC) held the 4th Annual Exeter River Alewife Festival along the banks of the Squamscott River in downtown Exeter. Over three dozen organizations exhibited at the Festival and event organizers estimate approximately 750 people, including many children, attended the event. The purpose of the Festival was to increase awareness of the Exeter River watershed and the role it plays in the Great Bay ecosystem, as well as its role in providing drinking water, wildlife habitat, and scenic, historic and recreational resources for residents in the ten watershed towns. Funding provided by the NHEP enabled ERLAC to print posters, banners, and newspaper advertisements announcing the event. Read the Report (.pdf/329KB)

2/08/05 - Implementation of the Dearborn Brook Watershed Management and Protection Plan 

The Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) helped the communities of Exeter and Stratham to begin implementing the top three recommendations made in the Dearborn Brook Watershed Management and Protection Plan: protecting undeveloped land, reviewing land use regulations, and developing public education and outreach campaign.  Dearborn Brook flows into the Town of Exeter Reservoir and is used to supply drinking water to the Town of Exeter and portions of Stratham. The watershed management plan was created by the Dearborn Brook Watershed Committee, which was established in 2001. Committee members represent the Conservation Commissions, Open Space Committees, Planning Departments, Water and Sewer Commissions, and Department of Public Works in the Towns of Exeter and Stratham.  Read the Report (.pdf/14MB)

2/18/05 - Comprehensive Conservation Outreach Plan

The Town of Newmarket constructed three signs for three open space parcels in the Town.  Two educational/information kiosks were constructed and one was repaired to display conservation outreach materials at these parcels.  A Town-owned Lands and Conservation Parcels database was completed as part of this project and maps of conservation lands were produced for outreach and planning purposes. This project was funded with NHEP funds through the Natural Resources Outreach Committee. Read the Report  (.pdf/ 1.3MB)

Projects Starting  

2/09/05 - Pease Wastewater Treatment Plant Study 

NHEP funds were awarded to the City of Portsmouth to conduct a feasibility study on the use of treated wastewater from the Pease wastewater treatment plant to irrigate the Pease golf course. The project will conclude on December 31, 2005.  Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

2/15/05 - Impacts of Wastewater Treatment Facilities on Receiving Water Quality (Squamscott River)

This project to be conducted by UNH will study nutrient loading from wastewater treatment plants and other sources into the Squamscott River to identify the cause of periodically low dissolved oxygen levels in the river.  This work is an expansion of a dissolved oxygen survey conducted for the National Coastal Assessment that was done in 2003. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

 Back to Table of Contents

NHEP UPCOMING EVENTS  

3/24/05 - NHEP Management Committee Meeting, 9am - Noon, Urban Forestry Center
NEW LOCATION: The Urban Forestry Center      -----------------------------------    NEW LOCATION: The Urban Forestry Center   ---------------------------    NEW LOCATION: The Urban Forestry Center
Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

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

4/14/05 - Water Quality Team Meeting, 2-4pm, Kingman Farm
Contact Natalie Landry 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.

 

 Back to Table of Contents