June 2005, #26

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

NHEP ACTIVITIES  

5/4/05 - POET Meeting 

Two new members attended this meeting: Dolores Leonard (CICEET) and Cathy Coletti (NH Coastal Program). The meeting topics included the NHEP Strategic Communication Plan, coordination with UNH and Coastal Program, attitudinal survey of coastal decision makers and the septic system video contest. Dolores agreed to write the next Estuaries Update and Cathy agreed to do another. Contact Dave Kellam for more information. 

5/4/05 - Oil Spill Response Exercise

The NHEP Coastal Scientist participated in the 2005 Oil Spill Response Exercise organized by the Piscataqua River Cooperative. NHEP indicators and data, including the Environmental Sensitivity Index maps, were used to plan responses to an oil spill scenario. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information. 

5/5/05 - Technical Assistance Provider Applications 

Ten applications were received for this program that provides communities with help on a wide range of regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to natural resources protection. The NHEP will evaluate applications and select firms or organizations to serve as Technical Assistance Providers in July. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information. 

5/5/05 - Management Plan: 2005 Update

The printed copies of the Management Plan: 2005 Update were delivered to the NHEP office. Copies will be sent to all Committee and Team members in June. The update includes the addition of two new action plans to the Management Plan: LND-37 Support the development and implementation of water resource management plans to determine sustainable groundwater and surface water use in the coastal watershed and RST-7 Support the development and implementation of marine aquatic nuisance species management plans for NH’s estuaries. Read (.pdf/2.3MB) the 16-page Update. Read (.pdf/8.9MB) the entire updated version of the Management Plan. Contact Dave Kellam to request a paper copy of the update. 

5/10/05 - Governor Transfers NHEP to UNH

Governor Lynch signed House Bill 148, which authorizes the transfer of the NHEP from the NH Department of Environmental Services to the University of New Hampshire. The passage of the HB148 culminates a nearly year-long effort by program staff and supporters to implement the legislative and administrative steps necessary to transfer the program to UNH. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information. 

5/11/05 - Land Use Team Meeting

This meeting began with brief reports on the updated Management Plan, the Technical Assistance Providers program, Natural Resources Outreach Coalition (NROC) evaluation, a new buffer outreach project in Portsmouth funded through a Moose Plate grant from NH Fish and Game and the USGS/NHGS groundwater resources study. The team then developed funding recommendations to the Management Committee for projects in 2006.

Back to Table of Contents

 

5/16/05 - Narragansett Bay NEP Review

Jennifer Hunter traveled to Rhode Island to take part in one day of EPA’s 3-day Implementation Review of the Narragansett Bay National Estuary Program. Jennifer met with EPA representatives (from Region 1 and Headquarters) conducting the review, as well as Narragansett Bay NEP program staff. The review included visits to various project sites, including the URI Coastal Institute and a tour of the URI Eelgrass Mariculture Facility. The NH Estuaries Project is scheduled for its next Implementation Review in 2006. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information. 

5/18/05 - Sea Grant PAC Meeting  

Jennifer Hunter participated in a quarterly Policy Advisory Committee meeting of the NH Sea Grant Program. Most of the meeting involved discussions about NH Sea Grant’s strategic plan, which is currently in development. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information. 

5/25/05 - NHEP Comments to EPA on NEP Coastal Condition Report

The NHEP reviewed and commented on a draft EPA report on the condition of each of the National Estuary Program sites around the county. Data from the National Coastal Assessment were used to evaluate water quality, sediment quality and fish tissue in each estuary. The NHEP Coastal Scientist and the Technical Advisory Committee verified the information in the report and provided details on NHEP indicators. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information. 

5/25/05 - Grant Funding Available to NH Coastal Communities 

The Department of Environmental Services (DES) has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for coastal municipalities to eliminate illicit storm sewer discharges, create municipal storm sewer maps and conduct illicit discharge detection surveys in coastal communities. The RFP is on-line at http://www.des.state.nh.us/WMB/Was/request_for_proposals.htm or the RFP can be obtained by contacting Jeff Marcoux at (603) 271-8862 or by email at jmarcoux@des.state.nh.us. Proposals are due by Friday, June 17, 2005 . A total of $60,000 in matching funds is available for projects (funds pending NH Governor and Executive Council approval). This funding comes from the New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP) and helps communities address several water quality action items identified in the NHEP's Management Plan for the coastal watershed. DES is working with the NHEP to improve shellfish resources and to reduce recreational health risks in the Seacoast region. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information. 

5/26/05 - Last Day at NH Department of Environmental Services 

The NHEP thanks the employees at the NH Department of Environmental Services who worked to administer the program during its 10 month stay and facilitate its transfer to UNH.

5/27/05 - First Day at the University of New Hampshire

The NHEP began its operations at the University of New Hampshire, within the Marine Program. The NHEP office is temporally located in Hewitt Annex on the Durham Campus, however, the office is expected to move again in two years as space becomes available. New contact information is available on the NHEP web site. Also the NHEP has a new web address: www.nhep.unh.edu. 

5/31/05 - Great Bay Estuary Restoration Compendium Meeting

Staff from the NHEP, NH Coastal Program, and the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve met with the Nature Conservancy and UNH to determine the methods for identifying restoration opportunities for shellfish, anadromous fish, salt marsh, and eelgrass in the coastal watershed. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information. 

  Back to Table of Contents

NHEP New Publications and Reports  Go to NHEP web site for all reports

5/6/05 - 2004 Student Estuarine Research Project

Portsmouth Middle School teachers, UNH researchers, and community volunteers worked together to combine classroom lessons with field trips to monitor bird populations in South Mill Pond. Approximately 337 sixth grade students monitored an ongoing habitat restoration project in 2004. The students learned about ecology of coastal waters, scientific method and bird ecology. The bird-monitoring component of the project involved observing, identifying and recording data on birds in and around the Pond. The data collected in 2004 were compared to the 2003 (year of the first bird monitoring project) data. Similar numbers of birds and major bird types were observed in Spring 2004 compared to Spring 2003. However, during Fall 2004 many more ducks were observed compared to the Spring monitoring periods.  Read Report (.pdf/604MB)

5/10/05 - 2004 Lamprey River Dissolved Oxygen Study

Research conducted by UNH Jackson Estuarine Lab confirmed the accuracy of the Lamprey River DataSonde measurements of salinity, oxygen and other core hydrographic parameter conditions in the river and the representativeness of the location of the DataSonde compared to other areas of the river’s upper tidal basin. Vertical profiles taken during surveys suggest significant stratification in the upper reaches of the Lamprey, with the high salinity bottom waters, at times, supporting low dissolved oxygen concentrations. Read Report (.pdf/651KB)

5/10/05 - 2004 Great Bay Water Quality (DataSonde) Monitoring Program

The project with UNH extended the Great Bay System-wide Monitoring Program to include in situ water quality assessments at a station at the UNH Coastal Marine Lab at the mouth of the Piscataqua River and at a station in the Salmon Falls River. With these additional stations, there is comprehensive coverage of the Great Bay estuary. Read Report (.pdf/166KB)

Back to Table of Contents

5/13/05 - 2004 Coastal Conservation Outreach

The Seacoast Land Trust developed a series of outings and programs to increase awareness, knowledge, and interest in land conservation and coastal resource protection. Through the programs the Trust hoped to engage a broad audience in the planned activities and a discussion of coastal and wetland protection issues. Between June 8, 2004 and March 30, 2005, 12 programs were delivered that involved 216 participants (some participants may have attended more than one program). The highest attendance (54) occurred for the Tools for Real Estate Professionals on March 30, 2005. Evaluations were administered at each program. Read Report (.pdf/2.6MB)

5/19/05 – Pickering Brook Salt Marsh Restoration Phase II

Ducks Unlimited, along with project partners, completed Phase II of the Pickering Brook Salt Marsh Restoration Project.  Phase II involved restoration activities on the north side of the creek and included filling 13 man-made ditches with marsh soils excavated during the enhancement of four permanent pools on the marsh.  In addition, monitoring activities were developed and coordinated pre- and post-restoration to evaluate the success of the restoration strategies. Read Report (.pdf/1.9MB)

Back to Table of Contents

 

NHEP Projects Starting 

5/4/05 - Coastal Watershed Land Conservation Transaction Grants

Center for Land Conservation Assistance (CLCA), hosted by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, will continue to administer the Coastal Watershed Land Protection Transaction Assistance Fund.  This fund supplies grants to eligible entities, including nonprofit conservation organizations and units of government, for land protection transaction costs, including surveys, appraisal costs, attorneys' fees, consultants' fees, and other related expenses. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

5/4/05 - Coastal Watershed Land Conservation Plan

The Nature Conservancy(TNC) is embarking on this project to develop a watershed-wide plan for land conservation, including implementation strategies. To complete this work, TNC and its subcontractors, including the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, Rockingham Planning Commission, and Strafford Regional Planning Commission, will conduct extensive data compilation, GIS modeling, and mapping activities. The final conservation plan will identify the most important areas for conservation and will describe key implementation strategies to achieve land conservation objectives. The plan will be useful to state, regional, and local agencies as well as conservation organizations in prioritizing areas for conservation and in securing additional funding. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

 Back to Table of Contents

 

NHEP UPCOMING Events

6/13/05 - New Hampshire's Changing Landscape 2005, 7 pm, Dover City Hall
New research confirms that New Hampshire is the fastest growing state in New England; that most of that growth is happening in the Seacoast and Southern NH and that growth is affecting an ever-larger portion of the state. Released this spring the Forest Society's New Hampshire's Changing Landscape report uses the latest data and research tools to show how recent growth trends are affecting the state's landscape. The report's author will present its key findings, with special attention to the impact of recent growth in the seacoast and southeastern regions of NH. Panelists include Dan Sundquist (SPNHF), Chris Wells (SPNHF), Cynthia Copeland, (SRPC), Cliff Sinnott (RPC) and Jennifer Hunter. For more information contact Chris Wells at SPNHF at 224-9945 ext. 355. 

6/14/05 - Shellfish Harvesting Opportunities in Great Bay, 7pm, Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth
The Great Bay Coast Watch is hosting a presentation by Chris Nash, shellfish program manager for the NH Department of Environmental Services, entitled “Changes to Shellfish Harvesting Opportunities in Great Bay.” Nash will discuss recent changes to openings and closures of shellfish beds in areas such as Great Bay, Little Bay, and the Bellamy River. In addition, Nash and the GBCW staff will give an update on the current red tide events along the northeastern Atlantic coast and discuss how such events affect the shellfish harvest. For more information, contact GBCW Coordinator Ann Reid at 603-749-1565 or ann.reid@unh.edu. The Urban Forestry Center is located at 45 Elwyn Road in Portsmouth.

6/23/05 - Management Committee Meeting,  9-Noon, US Forest Service Building, Durham
Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

 Back to Table of Contents