Estuaries Update #66: New Hampshire Estuaries Project

October 2008, #66

Featured Items
The National Estuary Program-NOAA Community-based Restoration Partnership (NEP/CRP) invites preproposals for its citizen-driven habitat restoration projects. The partnership is seeking to fund on-the-ground activities within watersheds of the National Estuary Programs that restore marine, estuarine, and riparian habitats benefiting living marine resources and foster local stewardship of the coastal environment. For more information, contact Derek Sowers. Read full RFP

NHPR Story: Project to Help NH Coastal Communities Adapt to Climate Change
"Researchers with the New Hampshire Estuaries Project and Antioch New England College step into a huge culvert running under a road. The stream flowing through here forms the headwaters of the Oyster River,. . ." Read and hear the story

NHEP Receives Conservation Partner of the Year Award from The Nature Conservancy
Read story in Foster's

Eye On Estuaries:
Stalking the Wild Culvert
“Now that’s a beauty,” exclaims Derek Sowers of the New Hampshire Estuaries Project as he descends a steep roadway that crosses a tributary of the Oyster River in Durham. . ." Read the article

September NHEP Activities		New Publications
	Environmental Issues Forum 09-4-08: NHEP staff spoke about water resource issues in the coastal watershed at an event featuring Governor John Lynch at the Seacoast Science Center. Topics covered by other panelists included climate change, energy use, and forestry and land use practices. Community members attending the event had the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists and the Governor and provide feedback on environmental policies.	A Citizen's Guide to Understand Brentwood's Land Use Regulations The Protect Critical Water Resources Through the Community Technical Assistance Program, the NHEP and the Brentwood Conservation Commission worked closely over the summer to create a brochure that explains the recent adoption of a Prime Wetlands ordinance in town as well as other land use regulations including Brentwood's regulations addressing shoreland, wetlands, and aquifer protection. The publication also includes a land use quiz for residents, a guide to landscaping practices that protect water quality, and a large map of Brentwood that clearly indicates Prime Wetlands, aquifers, and hydric soils. UNH Printing Services produced 2,000 copies of the brochure and each residence in Brentwood will receive a brochure in the mail. The remaining 500 copies will be distributed by the Conservation Commission to new residents. Read Brochure Shellfish Tissue Monitoring in New Hampshire Estuaries 2007 During the 2007 Gulfwatch sampling season, mussels were collected at seven sampling locations in New Hampshire. The Gulf of Maine Council covered the costs for analyzing mussel tissue samples from five stations. The NHEP covered the costs for analyzing the mussel samples at the remaining two stations. The DES Shellfish Program paid for the analysis of all the clam and oyster samples. Read Report Water Quality Monitoring in North River and Little River in Nottingham, NH The Town of Nottingham Conservation Commission (NCC) in New Hampshire was awarded NHEP Local Grant funding to purchase water testing equipment for monitoring the North and Little Rivers as part of the New Hampshire Volunteer River Assessment Program (VRAP). The equipment enabled NCC and Lamprey River Watershed Association volunteer water samplers to efficiently monitor water quality on the two rivers twice a month from May 2007 to June 2008. Read Report Program Report: 2008 V.I.P. Tour of Great Bay Estuary for Municipal Land Use Officials. This was the fifth consecutive year that the NHEP conducted the “V.I.P. Great Bay Estuary Tours for Municipal Land Use Officials” on board the UNH Gulf Challenger. Two tours (Wednesday, August 20 and Saturday, September 13) involved 34 municipal land use officials (i.e. planning board members, conservation commissioners) and their guests from 17 communities in the New Hampshire coastal watershed. Read Report Announcements Management Plan Development The NHEP is seeking contractor assistance to manage the process of updating its comprehensive Management Plan. A contractor, with input and guidance from NHEP staff and the NHEP Management Committee, will facilitate and document extensive stakeholder input and develop content for the plan. Approximately 350 to 400 hours of work are anticipated over a 14-month period, beginning in November 2008. Interested parties should submit an application by October 15, 2008. This initiative is funded by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation – Piscataqua Region. Read the Request for Applications --------- 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) Click to see full image
	NHEP Receives Conservation Partnership Award from TNC 09-5-08:NHEP staff accepted the 2008 Conservation Partnership Award at the annual meeting of the New Hampshire Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Read more
	GOMC State of the Gulf Report 09-5-08: Via a conference call, NHEP coastal scientist provided guidance for the development of a State of the Gulf report by the Gulf of Maine Council.
	Great Bay Issues Discussion Group 09-8-08:NHEP staff participated in this grassroots discussion group initiated by Representatives Borden and Spang. The group had a productive brainstorming session to identify short-term actions needed to address threats to the Great Bay estuary, primarily nitrogen loading.
	Maine Land Conservation Meeting 09-10-08:NHEP staff convened a meeting with conservation partners in the Maine portion of the NHEP watershed to discuss the possibility of conducting a conservation lands prioritization process comparable to the methods used in development of the "Land Conservation Plan for NH's Coastal Watersheds". The group is reviewing existing land protection plans in southern Maine, and determining if a new prioritization effort would be useful.
	VIP Tour of Great Bay 09-13-08: The V.I.P. boat tour of the Great Bay Estuary for Municipal Planning Officials was attended by 40 people representing 10 communities in the NHEP focus area. Presenters from the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, the UNH Stormwater Center, and the NHEP informed participants about resources available to achieve land use goals.
	NHEP Issues RFA for Management Plan Development 09-15-08: The NHEP issued a request for applications for contractor assistance with the development of the program’s updated management plan in 2009. See “Announcements” for additional details.
	Project Kick-Off Meeting 09-22-08: NHEP hosted a meeting to kick off the Piscataqua Region Environmental Planning Assessment project. The purpose of the project is to gauge the level of environmental protection and consistency among the 42 NH and 10 Maine towns that make up the NHEP watershed. The meeting gathered input from the regional planning commissions active in the watershed, the NHEP Land Use team, and other interested parties on the project methodology and key issues to collect information about.
	Gulfwatch Sampling 09-22 & 9-23-08:NHEP staff led an effort to collect mussels, clams, and oysters and prepare tissue samples for contaminant analysis. The sampling is for the Gulf of Maine Council's Gulfwatch Program and data are used in the State of the Estuaries report to document water quality trends.
	Symposium on Ecosystem-based Management 09-24-08: NHEP staff attended a forum hosted by the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve on ecosystem-based management efforts in the local region. The afternoon focused on presentations and discussion on how to bridge the gaps between scientific research, social/political frameworks, and applied resource management.
	2009 Local Grants Proposals Received 09-25-08: The 2009 Local Grants program received 15 proposals that requested a total of $103,496 of NHEP funding. Review of proposals will be completed later this month.
	NHEP Management Committee Meeting 09-26-08: The meeting held at the Seacoast Science Center included discussion of Management Committee membership, proposal to reprogram funding to the Land Protection Transaction Grants Program in 2008 and 2009, changing the name of the NHEP to represent activity in Maine, and a presentation of a $12,000 donation from FPL Energy - Seabrook Station to the NHEP.
	Great Bay Issues Meeting 09-30-08: NHEP staff participated in this work session convened by Representatives Borden and Spang to develop detailed actions from the brainstorming session held earlier in the month. Meeting participants created working groups in the areas of education, communication, and policy to identify activities and work plans to implement specific short-term actions to improve the health of the Great Bay estuary.
Upcoming Events 10-20-08: NH Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (CSPA) Workshop 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., at Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center at the Great Bay Discovery Center, Greenland, NH. RSVP to the Rockingham Planning Commission by calling 778-0885 or email @ rpc-nh.org 11-13-08: NHEP Presentation for Contemporary Coastal Issues Series 6:00 p.m., at the Remick Barn, Museums of Old York, York, ME. Presentation title New Hampshire Estuaries Project: Management Plans and Environmental Indicators for the Coastal Watershed by Philip Trowbridge, P.E., NHEP Coastal Scientist, Sponsored by Friends of the Gundalow. For information send email to info @ gundalow.org 11-17-08: NHEP Technical Advisory Committee Meeting 1:00 p.m., at the DES offices at the Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, NH

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