September 2006, #41

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NEW NHEP PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS ANNOUNCEMENTS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

AUGUST ACTIVITIES  

8/1/06 - Presentation on Environmental Status of Great Bay Dave Kellam gave a presentation on the historic and current environmental condition of Great Bay at the Exeter Historical Society as part of a program series hosted by the Gundalow Company. The presentation featured a preview of the 2006 State of the Estuaries Report. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

8/1/06 - Request for Proposals for Habitat Restoration Projects
The New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP), in partnership with the New Hampshire Coastal Program, requested proposals for projects resulting in the completion of on-the-ground habitat restoration for multiple estuarine species in the tidal waters of New Hampshire. Total funding available for this grant is $120,000. Deadline for proposals is November 1, 2006. For complete information read RFP or contact Phil Trowbridge.

8/11/06 Great Bay Habitat Restoration and Funding Opportunities Workshop
Phil Trowbridge participated in the Great Bay Habitat Restoration and Funding Opportunities Workshop that featured the Great Bay Estuarine Restoration Compendium (15.4MB) and a discussion of funding opportunities from the NHEP, New Hampshire Coastal Program, and other organizations. A total of 21 people from municipalities, state government and non-profit organizations participated in the workshop. Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

8/17/06 - Support of Habitat Restoration Partnership Proposal with NOAA
Dave Kellam submitted NHEP habitat restoration Action Plans and project reports to the Association of National Estuary Programs to enhance a proposal being developed to establish a national partnership with the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (CRP). Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

8/19/06 - Moose Mountains Regional Greenways' 4th Annual Woods, Water, and Wildlife Festival For the third year, Dave Kellam conducted tours of riparian areas along the Salmon Falls River and emphasized the importance of adequate stream buffers to support wildlife and maintain good water quality.

8/28/06 - Eye On Estuaries Published in Portsmouth Herald NH tourist, the bluefish, soon to depart bay by Dave Kellam, NHEP online article or text (.pdf/50KB)

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NEW NHEP PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS  

Stream Buffer Characterization Study The Complex Systems Research Center at the University of New Hampshire conducted a characterization of 2nd order and higher streams within the Piscataqua/Coastal Basin of New Hampshire. GIS and remote sensing data archived in the NH GRANIT database were used to map a suite of anthropogenic factors, including land use, impervious surface coverage, and transportation infrastructure, within standard buffers around each stream segment. These factors were then analyzed to produce a categorical indicator representing the status of each stream. The indicator categories, established with guidance from a project advisory committee, reflect the degree to which each buffer was impacted by human activity. Project results are presented on community-based, large format maps displaying the stream characterizations and the corresponding acreage tables. In addition, the data have been made available as digital data layers archived in the GRANIT database. These results deliver a valuable resource to the coastal management community by establishing a baseline for developing and prioritizing future stream level protection measures. Read Report

NHEP Data Management Plan - 2006 Update
The NHEP Data Management Plan contains protocols for data reporting to the NHEP to facilitate data integration. The protocols are considered contract requirements for NHEP monitoring programs and recommended guidelines for other partners. This plan also includes protocols for conducting quality assurance tests on water quality data to ensure the integrity of the NHEP indicators.
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Reef Structure Alternatives for Restoration of Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Populations in New Hampshire The University of New Hampshire describes a study that compared previous performance (survival, growth, natural spat set) of replicate "large" (6 m diameter) constructed reefs to replicate clusters of "small" (3.2 m diameter) constructed reefs. Early reef performance (dependent variables: oyster density, mean shell height, and spat [oysters < 40 mm shell height] density) did not differ significantly for the "large" constructed reefs compared to "small" reefs in any of the three dependent variables measured four times over the duration (20 months) of the experiment. Both types of constructed/restored reefs, however, differed substantially and significantly from both types of controls (exposed to harvest and unharvested) in oyster density and spat set, with mean densities of 3 to 6 times higher on the constructed reefs. A total of 1.25 acres of bottom area was considered "restored" oyster bottom at the completion of the project. Including direct and match costs for the present project, it was estimated that restoring 1 acre of oyster bottom using spat seeding would require about $54,800. A recommended protocol for design of reef restoration projects that involve spat seeding is provided. Read Report

Oyster Reef Restoration Project for the City of Dover
The University of New Hampshire and the City of Dover describe a project to restore formerly productive oyster bottom in two areas, the Bellamy River and Pomeroy Cove (Piscataqua River). Site surveys found substantial amounts of "shell bottom" (but only two live oysters) along a 1.2 km stretch of the Bellamy, and no oyster bottom at the Pomeroy Cove site. Hence, restoration efforts were designed only for the Bellamy. The primary reef restoration method chosen was “spat seeding" onto the existing shell bottom, which involves deposition of spat (young oysters) attached to shell substrate produced by remote setting. Larvae from native Great Bay oysters were set in tanks at UNH's Jackson Estuarine Laboratory (JEL) in July 2005, and held on a nursery raft at JEL until reef construction in November 2005. Approximately 300,000 spat-on-shell were used to construct 12 "minireefs" (total surface area ~0.1 acre) within a 1.5-acre overall restoration area. Nine months after reef construction, 32,000 live oysters remained on the mini-reefs and no live oysters were found in adjacent natural reef areas. When considering only the 0.1 acre area covered by the mini-reefs, live oysters occurred at 64/m2, which is similar to oyster densities in other areas in Great Bay. When considering the entire 1.5-acre restoration area, live oysters were at ~4/m2. The entire 1.5-acre area was considered "restored" in the short-term. Longer-term restoration success will be dependent upon successful natural recruitment to the minireefs as well as the adjacent bottom areas. Diver observations in July 2006 indicated that very little oyster shell (other than what was put out with the spat in November 2005) remained in the restoration area. This suggests that longer-term restoration success may require placement of additional shell onto the bottom.
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The Land Conservation Plan for New Hampshire's Coastal Watershed The Nature Conservancy, in partnership with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Rockingham Planning Commission and Strafford Regional Planning Commission, identify conservation priorities throughout the NH coastal watersheds using existing data on significant natural resource features, predictive GIS modeling, existing conservation plans, and local expert and public review. The Plan includes several natural resource maps of the NH coastal watersheds, including forest ecosystems, freshwater systems, coastal and estuarine resources, critical plant and wildlife habitat, and conservation focus areas. Appendices of the plan include a matrix of existing conservation plans; model conservation overlay district and wildlife habitat checklist; rare plant & animal species, exemplary natural communities and exemplary ecological systems documented in the coastal watersheds; and contact information for land conservation organizations, tools, and funding sources. The plan offers regional strategies for maintaining diverse wildlife habitat, abundant wetlands, clean water, productive forests, and outstanding recreational opportunities. Read Report

Stewardship Plan for Four Conservation Easements Held by the Town of Newfields
Jeffery H. Taylor & Associates present stewardship plans for four conservation easements held by the Town of Newfields. Each property was visited by the contractor and a local volunteer and best management practices and monitoring recommendations for the properties were provided. Each property plan includes a property map, site characteristics, pre-existing issues, idiosyncrasies of easement deed, and stewardship recommendations. Read Report

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

REGISTER ONLINE Space Is Limited, So Register Now. Agenda

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UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

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.

9/27/06 - NHEP Technical Advisory Committee Meeting, 1-3pm, Room 110 Gregg Hall, Durham
Contact Phil Trowbridge for more information.

9/28/06 - NHEP Management Committee Meeting, 9am – Noon, Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth
Contact Phil Trowbridge 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.

10/13 - 10/14/06 - Coastal Watershed Weekend
This regional event is the collaborative effort of several partnering organizations to highlight the region's outstanding natural resources and to draw attention the new Land Conservation Plan for New Hampshire's Coastal Watershed (25MB). To find a tour near you click here.

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

12/06/06 - NHEP Public Outreach and Education Team (POET) Meeting
Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

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