July 2006, #39

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NEW NHEP PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS ANNOUNCEMENTS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

JUNE ACTIVITIES  

6/4/06 - 6th Annual Alewife Festival
Even though the postponed event was plagued by intermittent showers, several hundred people still turned out to celebrate the migratory herring and to enjoy the more than two dozen displays from a variety of organizations, including NH Coastal Program, NH DES, NH Audubon, NH Fish and Game and the NHEP with its popular "Eel of Fortune" that featured a touch tank full of live eels. This is the sixth year the NHEP has supported Exeter River Local Advisory Committee's promotion of the Alewife Festival through the NHEP Local Grants program. Read article in Exeter Newsletter Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

6/12 - 6/13/06 - Triennial Implementation Review by US EPA Every three years National Estuary Programs must undergo an Implementation Review which identifies programmatic strengths and weaknesses and determines programs' continued eligibility for federal funding. This year's review team was comprised of John McShane (EPA Headquarters), Nancy Laurson (EPA Headquarters), Jean Brochi (EPA Region 1), Diane Gould (EPA Region 1), and Ed Lewandowski (Director, Center for the Inland Bays). The two-day review consisted of several meetings and site visits to NHEP-funded project sites. The team saw presentations by Jamie Houle and Steve Jones at the Center for Stormwater Technology Evaluation and Verification, by Cheri Patterson of NH Fish & Game Department on a Cocheco River fishway passage improvement project, by NH Coastal Program's Director Ted Diers on the Pickering Brook Restoration and Monitoring Project, by Dr. Dave Burdick of UNH on an Awcomin Marsh revegetation project, by Dr. Larry Harris, Jenn Dijkstra, Erica Westerman, and Anthony Dutton on a marine invasive species monitoring project, by Beth Lambert of NH Coastal Program on new invasive control projects in the Seacoast, by Dr. Ray Grizzle on UNH oyster restoration projects and by Jay Odell of The Nature Conservancy on the Great Bay Estuary Restoration Compendium. A letter from the EPA reporting the conclusions of the Implementation Review Team is expected in about one month. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

6/13/06 - NHEP Management Committee Meeting
The first discussion of the meeting was led by the EPA Implementation Review Team, who summarized the purpose of review and their initial findings. Jennifer Hunter then gave administrative updates to the group that included a summary of the successful passage of the NHDES Shellfish Program Funding Bill, an upcoming Habitat Restoration and Local Grants RFP, and an invitation to Management Committee members to attend the NEP Annual Fall Meeting in San Francisco. The meeting then moved on to two presentations by Coastal Scientist Phil Trowbridge on the Land Use and Development Environmental Indicator Report and water quality data recorded during the extreme rain events in May. Following these presentations, the Management Committee discussed and approved a letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in support of staffing the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge (read recent article on proposed staff reduction). Next, a presentation by Dr. Larry Harris focused on his NHEP-funded invasive species monitoring project. Finally, Jennifer Hunter concluded the meeting with an overview of the Year 11 NHEP Work Plan, which was approved by the Committee. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

6/14/06 - NROC Quarterly Meeting
The Natural Resources Outreach Coalition (NROC) team discussed marketing team progress, future funding options, and the 2007 program cycle including the timing of applications, community projects, and exit strategies. Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

6/15/06 - Nutrient Criteria Development/TAC Meeting
Phil Trowbridge chaired the second meeting of the workgroup for developing nutrient criteria for estuaries in New Hampshire. The group identified eelgrass as the most sensitive target for protection of aquatic life. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

6/23/06 - Stormwater Project Meeting with Town of Durham
Jodi Castallo met with Jim Campbell (Director of Planning and Community Development for the Town of Durham), David Cedarholm (Durham Town Engineer), and David Healy (Stone Environmental) to discuss a stormwater project that is being funded through the Community Technical Assistance Program. Contact Jodi Castallo for more information.

6/27/06 - New England NEP Meeting with EPA Region I
Phil Trowbridge attended a regional meeting with the directors of the other five National Estuary Program sites in New England. The programs met with the Regional Administrator of EPA Region I, Robert Varney, and other members of the EPA senior management team on June 27. The directors discussed areas where the NEPs could collaborate with EPA to achieve mutual goals. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

6/27/06 - New Durham TAP Meeting
Jodi Castallo met with Steve Whitman and Chris Kane of Jeffrey Taylor & Associates along with Robert Craycraft of New Durham to discuss a buffer ordinance project they are working on through the Community Technical Assistance Program. Contact Jodi Castallo for more information

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NEW NHEP PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS  

Greenland Conservation and Land Stewardship Plan The NHEP Community Technical Assistance Program enabled the Greenland Planning Board to develop this two part plan to help the community protect its natural resources. Prepared by Ibis Wildlife Consulting, the first part of the plan reviews existing information about community conservation goals as described in Greenland's profile report, master plan, open space plan, water resources plan and other documents. It highlights the unique and important natural resources and infrastructures in town. Also included is an assessment of existing town-owned lands to determine their potential conservation values. Also, the Plan evaluates opportunities to protect other important natural resources in town through new land conservation projects and other mechanisms. Finally, site-specific stewardship plans are included that present specific land management and stewardship recommendations for town-owned properties, including four large parcels: Coastal Way (Morgan Ryan), Coakley Estate, Post Road (2 parcels), and Packer Bog (many parcels). Read Report

NHEP Year 11 Work Plan
This Work Plan represents the eleventh year of NHEP activities and is developed with input from NHEP’s four project teams. The Plan describes recent accomplishments and projects to be undertaken in the next year to implement the NHEP Management Plan. Also included are a list of ongoing projects, a summary of meetings and milestones from the last year, relevance of activities to the Clean Water Act programs, and the overall budget. The NHEP Management Committee approved this plan during the June 13 meeting.
Read Plan

 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

7/12/06 - Public Outreach and Education Team (POET) Meeting, 9-11am, Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center, Stratham
Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

8/19/06 - Moose Mountains Regional Greenways' 4th Annual Woods, Water and Wildlife Festival
Learn More or Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

9/18 - 9/21/06 - National Estuary Program Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA
Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

9/20/06 - V.I.P. Great Bay Estuary Tour, 9am-Noon, Fishermen's Pier, Portsmouth
Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

9/30/06 - National Estuaries Day & V.I.P. Great Bay Estuary Tour, 2-5pm, Fishermen's Pier, Portsmouth
Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

10/27/06 - State of the Estuaries Conference
Register

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