Estuaries Update #60: New Hampshire Estuaries Project

Rocks along the shore of Great Bay - Greenland, NH

April 2008, #60

New Publications
	Seasonal Appearance and Monitoring of Invasive Species in the Great Bay Estuarine System
Announcements
	UNH Stormwater Center Workshops Accepting 2008 Land Transaction Grant Applications Accepting Applications for Community Technical Assistance Program
Upcoming Events
	4-16-08: New Hampshire Water Conference 5-1-08: New England Estuarine Research Society Meeting 5-2-08: NHEP Management Committee Meeting

Click to See

In the News: North Hampton Conservation Commission
Awarded Grant Read

March NHEP Activities

New Publications

Hampton CTAP & NROC Assistance
3-6-08: Hampton Open Space Committee will work with Kane & Ingraham on a CTAP project to inventory, map, and develop stewardship plans for town-owned conservation lands and easements. The Committee also requested the NROC presentation “Planning An Effective Outreach and Education Strategy” for the next meeting.

Seasonal Appearance and Monitoring of Invasive Species in the Great Bay Estuarine System

UNH researchers characterize invasive species in the Great Bay Estuary. The report includes a synthesis of existing data on invasive species in the area and the results of a long-term comparative succession panel study that compared findings from a 2003 to 2006 study period and data from a similar study conducted from 1979 to 1982. The report also presents data conducted during a monitoring effort in the Great Bay Estuary to document invasive species and their predators. Read Report

Upcoming Events

4-16-08: New Hampshire Water Conference, Concord, NH website

5-1-08: New England Estuarine Research Society Meeting, Greenland, NH website

5-2-08: NHEP Management Committee Meeting, 9 am - Noon, Location TBD

Announcements

	UNH Stormwater Center Workshops In 2008, the UNH Stormwater Center will host workshops at its field facility to demonstrate a number of stormwater treatment technologies. The NHEP will pay registration fees for members of planning boards, conservation commissions, and zoning boards of adjustment, as well as town planning and public works staff from NHEP’s watershed communities. Register at Stormwater Center’s website. Confirm sponsorship eligibility by contacting the NHEP.
	Accepting 2008 Land Transaction Grant Applications The NHEP has funding available in 2008 to assist with transaction costs associated with high priority permanent land protection projects within the New Hampshire coastal watershed. Applications from nonprofit 501(c)(3) conservation organizations or government entities are currently being accepted for up to $3000 per project. Download Application
	Accepting Applications for Community Technical Assistance Program The NHEP is accepting applications from municipal planning boards and conservation commissions through Round 3 of its Community Technical Assistance Program (CTAP), which provides consulting assistance to communities on a wide range of regulatory and nonregulatory approaches to natural resources protection. Read Application (.pdf or MS Word)

NROC Quarterly Meeting
3-11-08: Reports on NROC community projects included Raymond's natural resource inventory and Open Space Plan implementation; Dover's stormwater management outreach and education strategy; and Milton's projects to improve water resources protection, planning and ordinances, and environmentally responsible economic development.

Wastewater Treatment Facility Sampling
3-13-08: NHEP staff collected total nitrogen samples from eight wastewater treatment plants.

Brentwood Land Use Ordinance Outreach Meeting
3-18-08: The first meeting of the CTAP project with Brentwood for outreach on local land use ordinances included discussion of content, outreach form, and desired outcomes.

Eelgrass Meeting
3-25-08: EPA Region 1 sponsored a day-long regional forum in Boston to present and discuss results of eelgrass research, mapping, and restoration projects. NHEP Staff gave a presentation entitled “Nutrient Criteria Development for the Protection of Eelgrass in NH’s Estuaries” .

Tributary Monitoring
3-26-08: Staff from the UNH Water Quality Analysis Laboratory and the NHEP completed the first round of monthly water quality sampling on the tidal tributaries to the Great Bay Estuary. Data are used to determine nitrogen and phosphorus loads to Great Bay from the watershed.

POET Meeting
3-26-08: Ten NHEP Public Outreach and Education Team (POET) members discussed NHEP outreach projects, including the second edition of the NHEP Shellfish Spotlight that will be published later this year. Also first meeting for Sue Cobler, former biologist and current Coordinator of ArtSpeak in Portsmouth.

New England Association of Environmental Biologists Annual Meeting
3-27-08: NHEP Staff gave a presentation on “Detecting Water Quality Patterns in New Hampshire’s Estuaries Using National Coastal Assessment Probability-Based Survey Data” at the NEAEB Annual Meeting in Bartlett, NH.

Climate Project Proposal Submitted to EPA
3-28-08: NHEP submitted a proposal to EPA headquarters to serve as a National Estuary Program (NEP) pilot project site under EPA’s new “Climate Ready Estuaries” initiative, which strives to guide NEP efforts in adapting to climate change impacts. The NHEP’s proposal would analyze how increased storm runoff resulting from both future land development and climate change is likely to impact culvert and bridge infrastructure in the Oyster River Watershed.

Great Bay Estuary Commission Meeting
3-28-08: The Commission discussed the approach it would use to draft its final report to the legislature. A subcommittee of the group will develop a draft report that includes general recommendations to guide future consideration of the data and alternatives presented in the comprehensive wastewater study report prepared by Metcalf and Eddy.

To learn more about any meeting, publication, or future event, submit your question to our Contact Us web page.