Estuaries Update #55: New Hampshire Estuaries Project

Lamprey River in October - Lee, NH

November 2007, #55

Links to New Publications
	Durham Stormwater Management Projects Review of Northwood's Stormwater Management Regulations
Announcements
	Buffer Workshops
Upcoming Events
	Buffer Workshop in Manchester NHEP TAC Nutrient Criteria Meeting, Newington

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Seabrook Station donates $12K to NHEP 10-30-07: Portsmouth Herald Read More

October Activities			New Publications
	Four Days of Gulfwatch Monitoring 10-2, 10-11, 10-18, & 10-31-07: NHEP led a field crew to 10 sites to collect mussels, clams, and oysters that will be tested for contaminants. Read about Gulfwatch		Durham Stormwater Management Projects Stone Environmental, Inc. provided stormwater management assistance to the Town of Durham through the NHEP Community Technical Assistance Program. The consultant reviewed Durham's existing regulations and compared the Town's development rules to 20 model development principles developed by the Center for Watershed Protection. The consultant reviewed a Draft Stormwater Ordinance, originally developed for the Town in 2003, and recommended detailed changes to provide consistency with state and federal regulations and more recent approaches to stormwater management. A final component of the project involved calculating impervious surfaces under build-out conditions. The analysis used the 2005 impervious surface estimates developed by UNH Complex Systems Research Center and a build-out analysis previously completed by the Strafford Regional Planning Commission. Two scenarios were analyzed, with different assumptions about impervious surface ratios. In 2005, impervious surfaces in Durham accounted for 6.5% of land area. At build-out, impervious surface is estimated at 12.7% using ratios consistent with dimensional requirements listed in the zoning ordinance and estimated at 10.3% using ratios typical of existing development. Read the Two Reports: 1. Regulations for Stormwater Management Report 2. Impervious Surface Analysis Report Review of Northwood's Stormwater Management Regulations Stone Environmental, Inc. provided assistance to the Town of Northwood through the NHEP Community Technical Assistance Program. The consultant reviewed Northwood's existing regulations and compared the Town's development rules to 20 model development principles developed by the Center for Watershed Protection. Revisions suggested to Northwood's development ordinance, subdivision regulations, and site plan review regulations are intended to improve stormwater management and water quality in the community. In addition, Stone Environmental identifies several new ordinances for the Town to consider as part of a comprehensive stormwater management approach, including a buffer protection ordinance, illicit discharge prohibition ordinance, post-construction stormwater control ordinance, pet waste ordinance, and an ordinance banning phosphorus fertilizers. Read Report Announcements Buffer Workshop A workshop for municipal board/commission members, town staff, members of watershed organizations, and citizens interested in protecting surface waters by strengthening buffer ordinances. November 29, 2007 at Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission Office, Manchester - Hosted by the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission. Learn more --------------------------------------------- The UNH Survey Center will be mailing surveys at the end of November to Planning Boards and Conservation Commissions to assess attitudes about NHEP services. Each packet of surveys will include a bag of mints to encourage participation in the survey. We hope to trade mints for comments. To receive a survey packet, contact Dave Kellam at 862-3403.
	NHEP Management Committee Meeting 10-3-07: Highlights of the meeting included a report on the NHEP Community Technical Assistance Program, a presentation on nutrient criteria for New Hampshire’s estuaries, release of the 2007 NHEP Progress Report, a field trip to Brown's River restoration site at Seabrook Station, and a $12,000 donation by FPL Energy Seabrook to the NHEP. Read Complete Agenda
	NHEP Public Outreach and Education Team (POET) Meeting 10-17-07:The team reviewed 2007 outreach projects and discussed NHEP priorities for 2008.
	Second Hyperspectral Flight 10-17-07: Aerial images were taken that record 64 wavelengths across the visible and near-infrared spectrum to reveal suspended and dissolved materials in the waters of the Piscataqua River, Little Bay, and Great Bay. Read Press Release
	UNH Marine Information Fair 10-22-07: NHEP hosted a booth at this UNH Marine Program event designed to recruit students into the field of Marine Studies.
	Siltation Commission Meeting 10-22-07: Commission members heard from UNH researcher Fred Short on the ecological impacts of siltation. Two subcommittees were formed – one to review the ecological, social and economic impacts of siltation in the Great Bay Estuary and another to review the sources and causes of siltation. Read Siltation Website
	Local Grants Review 10-24-07: The Local Grants Review Team met in the Portsmouth Public Library to discuss the merits of four proposals submitted to the annual program. Results will be announced in November.
	Buffer Workshop 10-29-07: Thirty-eight (38) people attended this workshop that helped explain the value of buffers and how to develop ordinances in a community to protect these important areas. The workshop was hosted by Rockingham Planning Commission and developed by a collaborative group including NHEP, GBNERR, RPC, NHDES, SNHPC, NHFG, SRPC, NHCP, and UNHCE.
	Taylor River Feasibility Study Public Meeting 10-29-07: Landowners, state representatives, and resource management organization staff (including NHEP) attended a public meeting to discuss the implications of rebuilding and removing the dam on the Taylor River in Hampton. NHDOT Project Information Page


Upcoming Events 11-29-07: Protecting Shoreland and Riparian Buffers Workshop, Manchester, NH - Learn More 12-7-07: NHEP TAC Nutrient Criteria Meeting, Newington, NH - Learn More

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