August 2007, #52

QUICK LINKS:

NEW NHEP PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS ANNOUNCEMENTS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

JULY ACTIVITIES  

7/6/07 - Reality-based Regulations by Dave Kellam, NHEP Rockingham News, 7/6/07 Read Seacoast Online Version or .pdf version

7/11/07 - Buffer Regulation Development Workshop Meeting
NHEP staff met with Julie Labranche, Strafford Regional Planning Commission, and Kevin Schwenzfeier, Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission to develop materials for an upcoming buffer workshop series. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

7/17/07 - Great Bay Conservation Roundtable Meeting
Dave Kellam attended the lunchtime meeting of Great Bay Conservation Roundtable to learn about land protection activities in the region and to promote the NHEP Be Part of the Solution: Identify and Report Water Pollution campaign and Local Grants program. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

7/18/07 - Stormwater Outreach Meeting
Jodi Castallo met with Sally Soule, NH Coastal Program, Barbara McMillan, Watershed Bureau at NHDES, and Jamie Houle, UNH Stormwater Center to discuss a coordinated stormwater education and outreach effort. Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information.

7/18/07 - POET Subcommittee Meeting
A subcommittee of the NHEP Public Outreach and Education Team (POET) met to address shared challenges of communicating with municipal planning officials. Attendees included Dave Kellam, Steve Miller of Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Cathy Coletti of NH Coastal Program, and Michelle Beuachamp of Strafford Regional Planning Commission. Each organization represented at the meeting spends a great deal of time maintaining contact information for planning board members, conservation commissioners, and other municipal planning officials. The group discussed data management strategies and ways to increase efficiency. The group agreed to investigate the use of a shared on-line system that could minimize duplication of effort and improve communication with key audiences. For more information, contact Dave Kellam.

7/19/07 - Stormwater Pollution Prevention Workshop Dave Kellam attended this NHEP-funded workshop at the Exeter Public Works Department conducted by Christine Rinehart, Project Engineer for Jacobs Edwards and Kelcey. The workshop's goal was to educate field crews about the best management practices found in the Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination and Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Guide. The guide is designed to assist municipalities and other Phase II entities in maintaining vehicles, equipment, facilities, and storm drain systems in ways that protect water quality. Dave distributed the Be Part of the Solution: Identify and Report Water Pollution materials at the workshop. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

7/19/07 - Seacoast Stormwater Coalition Meeting
Dave Kellam attended this meeting of Phase II communities that work together to achieve stormwater management goals. Dave shared information on the Be Part of the Solution: Identify and Report Water Pollution campaign and the 2008 Local Grants Program: Request for Proposals. Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

7/27/07 - Marine Invasive Species Rapid Assessment Survey
The NHEP helped coordinate the New Hampshire portion of a three-state rapid assessment survey for marine invasive species. Eighteen scientists from around the world participated in the week-long survey to inventory native and non-native species found in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine coastal waters. Results will be compared to species lists compiled during the last survey conducted in 2003. New Hampshire sites surveyed included the Wentworth Marina in New Castle and the Hampton River Marina in Hampton. Read Press Release Contact Jennifer Hunter for more information

7/27/07 - Scientists search Hampton Harbor for invasive species by Susan Morse Hampton Union Read the Story

Back to Table of Contents

 

NEW NHEP PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS  

Pleasant Point Sewer Extension The City of Portsmouth describes a project to extend the city sewer service to the Pleasant Point area which is adjacent to the Back Channel area of the Piscataqua River. Seventeen homes in the area were using septic systems to treat wastewater. Several of these septic systems were failing and several more were near failing and contributing to water quality problems. The project included the installation of a low pressure sewer in the Pleasant Point area connecting to an existing gravity sewer on New Castle Avenue. Homeowners were responsible for tying into the sewer services at the edge of their property line. This project helped implement NHEP Action Plan WQ-7 related to the elimination of failing septic systems. In addition, this project was identified as a priority Action Item in the Total Maximum Daily Load Study for Bacteria in Little Harbor, New Hampshire. The project was funded in part by a grant from the NHEP, a State Revolving Fund loan, City sewer system revenues, and private participation. Read Report

Wetlands Conservation District and Stormwater Regulations for Town of Kingston
Stone Environmental describes the work done with the Town of Kingston to revise the community's wetlands conservation district regulations and proposed stormwater regulations. The main issues covered in the proposed regulations were a prohibition against illicit discharges and illegal dumping to Kingston’s storm drainage system, erosion prevention, sediment control at construction sites, and post-construction (permanent) stormwater control. The proposed stormwater regulations were intended to replace an existing article in Kingston’s code on sediment and erosion control, and to expand the regulations to cover other aspects of stormwater control required under US EPA’s Phase II stormwater rules. The revised version of the wetlands conservation district regulations proposed heightening wetlands protection in some respects and defining appropriate buffer widths around wetlands based on wetland characteristics and the underlying zoning district. The Town of Kingston chose to work on revision of the wetlands conservation district regulations prior to addressing the larger and more complicated stormwater regulations. The wetlands regulations will be on the March 2008 town warrant. Read Report

Testing of Great Bay Oysters for Two Protozoan Pathogen in 2006 Testing done annually since 1995 documents that two protozoan pathogens, Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) and Perkinsus marinus (Dermo), are present in Great Bay oysters. Based on testing done by Rutgers University with funding from the New Hampshire Estuaries Project, the Marine Fisheries Division of New Hampshire Fish and Game Department assessed the presence and intensity of both disease conditions in oysters from the major beds, some open for harvest, within the Great Bay estuarine system. Severity of infection and prevalence varies from site to site and over time at a specific site. The year 2006 oyster tests show continued presence of MSX in Great Bay. Dermo was seen for the fifth successive year after a nearly five year absence in oysters. Also present but of unknown pathogenicity are ciliate produced xenomas in gill tissue. The report recommends: (1) This testing program should continue with samples from major oyster beds within the Great Bay system; (2) Movement of oysters from bed to bed within the Great Bay system should be carefully controlled; and (3) The effect of ciliate xenomas should be further studied. Read Report

Rockingham Planning Commission Buffer Project
The Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) describes working with members of the Planning Boards and Conservation Commissions in the Towns of Kensington, Brentwood, Hampton Falls, and Fremont to review NHEP shoreland buffer maps. RPC reviewed existing land use regulations in each community relative to protection of shoreland buffers, reviewed land use regulations proposed by the Land Conservation Plan for NH's Coastal Watersheds, discussed local concerns about protecting buffers, and provided draft local land use regulations to increase the protection of buffers. Read Report

Cooperative Project to Control Invasive Plants in the New Hampshire Seacoast Region The Rockingham County Conservation District (RCCD) describes the activities involved in coordinating a group of Project Partners to combat invasive species in the Seacoast. Project Partners include the University of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Estuaries Project, New Hampshire Coastal Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rockingham County Conservation District, New Hampshire Audubon, Town of Rye, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership. The goal of this project was to develop invasive species control plans for parcels in the New Hampshire Seacoast, treat approximately 100 acres of invasive species over the next 5 years, treat a minimum of 10 acres during the first year of the project, build RCCD’s capacity to coordinate invasive plant management projects, and explore partnerships to expand integrated pest management for invasive plant species. The report describes control measures recommended on approximately 30 acres of land across five parcels that are infested with invasive species in Rye and North Hampton. A contractor was selected to begin treatment of these areas and the work is documented by site photos. Aerial photography of the five locations are presented in the report that indicate management areas, recommended actions, work completed between the fall of 2006 and the spring of 2007, and 11 monitoring sites. The report offers an extensive list of recommendations. One of the positive outcomes cited by the report is the development of a Cooperative Weed Management Area in the Seacoast, designated the “New Hampshire Coastal Watershed Invasive Plant Partnership”. Read Report

 

Back to Table of Contents

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NHEP Offices Moving to Nesmith Hall at UNH After August 8th, the new NHEP address will be: New Hampshire Estuaries Project Nesmith Hall, 131 Main Street Durham, NH 03824

NHEP Seeks Project Coordinator
The NHEP is seeking a Project Coordinator to support implementation of the Management Plan for New Hampshire's estuaries. Duties include developing and managing projects related to priority areas of the plan and managing many of the program's community assistance and outreach initiatives aimed at improving local stewardship of coastal watershed resources. Priority areas include stormwater management, buffer protections, land conservation, and habitat restoration. Apply for the position with UNH Human Resources Employment Services.

Download Request For Proposals Current Local Grant Projects Past Local Grant Projects

Read Full Sized Flyer   Register On-line*   * Only open to planning board members, conservation commissioners, and other municipal planning officials in the 42 coastal watershed communities.

Back to Table of Contents

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

9/7/07 - NHEP POET Meeting, 9:00-11:00am, Location TBD
Contact Dave Kellam for more information.

9/19/07 - V.I.P. Tour of Great Bay Estuary for Municipal Planning Officials, 9:00am - Noon, Portsmouth Fishermen's Pier
Registration is required. Register on-line, by email at Contact.NHEP@unh.edu, or by calling 862-3403.

9/29/07 - V.I.P. Tour of Great Bay Estuary for Municipal Planning Officials (National Estuaries Day), 2:00 - 5:00pm, Portsmouth Fishermen's Pier
Registration is required. Register on-line, by email at Contact.NHEP@unh.edu, or by calling 862-3403.

Back to Table of Contents