March 2006, #35

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NEW NHEP PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS ANNOUNCEMENTS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

FEBRUARY ACTIVITIES  

2/1/06 - Finance Sub-Committee Meeting
NHEP Management Committee members Mark Zankel, Dean Peschel, Peter Britz, Dick Dumore, Dave Funk, and Wendy Lull, as well as NHEP staff Jennifer Hunter, Phil Trowbridge, and Jodi Castallo, met to discuss the finance plan being developed with the assistance of financial consultant Maggie Ford. Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

2/2/06 - NROC Evaluation and Retreat
The Natural Resources Outreach Coalition (NROC) partners met to review NROC’s mission, goals, and objectives; reflect on the recommendations offered by the Plymouth State University NROC evaluation; and develop and prioritize strategies to address recommendations, gaps, and/or future needs. The meeting included a presentation by Plymouth State University researcher Brian Eisenhauer, one of the principal investigators for the NROC evaluation. Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

2/3/06 - NH Public Radio Interview
Dave Kellam was interviewed by Lisa Peakes of NH Public Radio about the Septic Systems Video Awards Show. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

2/10/06 - Land Resource Management Seminar
Jodi Castallo attended this NHDES seminar in Concord that reviewed several land resource laws, regulations, and programs. The topics included public water supplies, stream crossing and wildlife impacts, wetland permitting, natural wetlands buffers, septic systems, and the alteration of terrain rules. Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

2/14/06 - Coastal Watershed Land Conservation Plan Meeting
Jennifer Hunter attended this project meeting conducted by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and project partners to gather input from land protection, habitat, and data specialists on the data and methods being used to identify and prioritize coastal watershed areas for conservation. TNC will conduct a second meeting with this group to further develop priorities for the plan. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

2/15/06 - Durham Buffer Meeting
Jodi Castallo met with Jim Campbell, Durham’s town planner, to discuss the town's buffer protection work. Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

2/21/06 - State Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Plan Meeting
Phil Trowbridge represented the NHEP at a meeting of the State ANS Plan Steering Committee in Concord. The group drafted management strategies, objectives, and tasks for the plan. The goal is to complete a draft of the plan by September 2006. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

2/22/06 - Newmarket Buffer Meeting
Jodi Castallo met with Clay Mitchell, Newmarket’s town planner, to discuss the town's buffer protection work. Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

2/22/06 - Shellfish Program Funding Bill
The NH House approved the amended version of House Bill 1747 to provide funding for the NHDES Shellfish Program.  The amended version of the bill included the appropriation of $175,000 of General Funds to support the program each year, rather than through the collection of fees from a variety of sources.  After House approval, the Bill was introduced to the Senate where it was referred to the Environment and Wildlife Committee. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

2/24/06 - Great Bay Estuary Commission Meeting
Jennifer Hunter and Management Committee member Dave Funk attended this meeting that included a review of Metcalf and Eddy’s recently completed Alternatives Development Methodology Report, which summarized the methodology to establish the 10 preliminary wastewater treatment and disposal alternatives for the feasibility study. The Commission also discussed the upcoming public charrette and pre-charrette workshop (March 25 and March 23, respectively). For more information on the report or the two upcoming events, see www.coastalclear.org. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

2/24/06 - Implementation Review Report Submitted
Jennifer Hunter submitted a comprehensive report to meet the requirements for the NHEP’s triennial implementation review conducted by EPA.  The report includes a summary of NHEP highlights and accomplishments, responses to challenges identified in the 2002 implementation review, and other programmatic information requested by EPA.   An EPA Implementation Review Team will review the report and conduct a site visit later this year as part of the review. Read the Report. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

2/27/06 - Advisory/Technical Kick-Off Meeting for Buffer Project in Candia and Deerfield
Jodi Castallo attended this initial meeting of the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission and the towns of Candia and Deerfield to implement a local grants project to develop land use regulations to protect buffers. Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

 

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NEW NHEP PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS  

NH Department of Environmental Services Shellfish Program Activities, January 2005-December 2005 The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Shellfish Program activities in 2005 are described. Sanitation studies in accordance with National Shellfish Sanitation Program guidelines were conducted. Targeted inspections and sampling of previously identified sources was emphasized to complete sanitary surveys for selected growing areas or to collect data needed for annual and triennial sanitary survey reviews. Sanitary surveys were completed for the Bellamy River and Little Bay. Monitoring activities included ambient water sampling for fecal coliform bacteria, post-rainfall tests, sewage release problem area sampling, shellfish biotoxin monitoring, and post-severe weather testing. As in the past, NHDES involved citizen participation in its activities, including the Great Bay Coast Watch. Plans for next year's work include completion of ongoing studies on the Upper Piscataqua River, Cocheco River, Salmon Falls River, and Hampton/Seabrook Harbor. Read the Report. Read the Report

Soft-shell Clam (Mya arenaria) Distribution & Abundance at Selected Sites in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire UNH researchers Raymond Grizzle, Jennifer Greene, and Holly Abeels, surveyed six areas in the Great Bay Estuary for evidence of clams. Each area was first visually inspected for suitable habitat and evidence of soft-shell clams. Areas were then surveyed to determine the densities of clams. GIS data, metadata, and clam counts and measurements from the surveys were produced. An assessment of clam distribution and abundance patterns compared to previous studies was conducted. Although all six areas were predominantly intertidal mudflats that could be suitable habitat, very few live clams were found and very few empty shells were observed. The researchers recommend additional assessments to survey clams in habitats with stiff sands/muds and cobble/soft sediment mixtures and future research of major predators to early post-set clams in Great Bay. Read the Report

2004 Coastal Illicit Connection Identification and Elimination Grant Project
The 2004 illicit connection identification and elimination grant program funded by the NHEP and administered by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is described. NHDES issued a Request for Proposals through which projects were funded in Dover and Portsmouth. The Dover Public Works department corrected illicit discharges from four buildings, including one building that was discharging sanitary waste directly into the Cocheco River. In Portsmouth, intensive investigation in the Route 1 area using sampling, televising, and dye testing revealed an illicit connection to a stormdrain from a commercial kitchen grease trap. The pollution source was eliminated. Through the investigations, the City staff also found discharges of truck washing fluids to the stormdrain and issued a letter to the property owner to cease the illegal activity. Read the Report

2004 Coastal Municipal Stormwater Infrastructure Mapping Project
The 2004 stormwater infrastructure mapping grant program funded by the NHEP and administered by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is described. NHDES issued a Request for Proposals through which the City of Rochester's mapping project was funded by the 2004 grant program. Interns were hired to conduct mapping using the City's geographical positioning systems (GPS). In total, 171 outfalls that entered major river systems, including the Cocheco, Salmon Falls and Isinglass, were mapped. The City also located 1,124 manholes and 1,845 catch basins. All structures were documented and integrated into the City's GIS, and digital photographs of each outfall were obtained. Through the mapping process, field crews noted the presence of thirty areas with dry weather flows for future investigation. Read the Report

NHEP Implementation Review Report
This a comprehensive report compiled for the EPA's triennial implementation review of the NHEP for the period of 2002-2005.. The report includes a summary of NHEP highlights and accomplishments, responses to challenges identified in the 2002 implementation review, and other programmatic information requested by EPA.  Read the Report.

NH Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Laboratories Shellfish Program Activities January 2005 – December 2005
Results from water sample testing and shellfish tissue analyses conducted by the New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories (NHPHL) of the Department of Health and Human Services are reported. In 2005, the NHPHL tested 836 water samples, 101 shellfish tissue samples for bacteria, and 87 shellfish tissue samples for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). The 2005 PSP bloom event required a 33% increase in the number of samples taken. In addition, the wet weather in 2005 led to an additional 149 samples being received and processed. All samples received were successfully tested. NHPHL will continue through 2006 to test PSP levels and provide analyses of shellfish growing water samples for fecal coliform bacteria, salinity, and pH. Read the Report

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Septic Scenes Video Awards Show Airs March 2006 The final Septic Scenes Video Awards Show is completed and will appear soon on government access channels in all 42 communities in NH Coastal Watershed. The show is hosted by Jay Baas of NHDES, Subsurface Bureau, and Amanda Stone of UNH Cooperative Extension and features five amateur videos on septic system maintenance that were submitted to the NHEP home video contest held in late 2005. Contact Dave Kellam for a DVD of the show or for information on how you can help get this program on your local government access channel. Read Press Release

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UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

3/6 - 3/10/06 - Annual Meeting of National Estuary Programs, Washington, DC
Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

3/14/06 - NROC Meeting, 9:30am-Noon, Kingman Farm, Madbury
Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

3/17/06 - NHEP Technical Advisory Committee Meeting, 1-3pm, NH Fish and Game, Durham
Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

3/22/06 - NHEP POET Meeting, 9:00am-Noon, Sandy Point Discovery Center, Stratham
Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

3/23/06 - New Hampshire Seacoast Region Wastewater Management Study Project Pre-Charrette Workshop, 6:30-9:00pm, Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center at Sandy Point Discovery Center, Stratham
Contact Robert Scherpf for more information.

3/25/06 - New Hampshire Seacoast Region Wastewater Management Study Project Charrette, Cooperative Middle School, Stratham
Contact Robert Scherpf for more information.

3/27/06 - NHEP Land Use Team Meeting, 1:30-3:00pm, NHDES Coastal Office, Pease Tradeport, Portsmouth
Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

4/6/06 - NHEP Management Committee Meeting, 9:00am-Noon, Seacoast Science Center, Rye
Directions Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

10/27/06 - 2006 State of the Estuaries Conference, Sheraton Harborside, Portsmouth
Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

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