Wetland Buffer Characterization and Public Outreach in North Hampton

This report documents a Community Technical Assistance Program project with the Town of North Hampton that included a characterization of wetland buffers and buffer protection in the town and a community outreach newsletter that focuses on the protection of North Hampton wetland buffers. Consultants from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc conducted field examinations of key North Hampton wetland buffer areas and issued a technical memorandum that characterizes wetland buffer areas in the town and discusses the value of these areas in terms of public interest and property values. Much of the information presented in the technical memo was communicated in an eight-page newsletter designed by NHEP. Fosters Daily Democrat printed 3,000 copies of the tabloid-sized newsletter. UNH Mailing Services sent them using saturation mailing rates that delivered one to every household in North Hampton (1,925 residences). The newsletter highlights community wetland resources, functions and values of wetland buffers in North Hampton, and actions citizens can take to protect wetland buffers in the community. An electronic version of the newsletter is posted on the Town of North Hampton website. Read Report

Eelgrass Distribution in the Great Bay Estuary for 2007
This report states that in 2007, eelgrass has almost disappeared from Little Bay and the Piscataqua River. Despite these critical losses in mid-estuary, eelgrass distribution in the Great Bay Estuary (GBE) as a whole between 2006 and 2007 experienced an overall loss of 3% in area. Eelgrass area in Great Bay itself remained about the same between 2006 and 2007, with an increase in biomass due to some of the remaining beds becoming more dense. However, Little Bay and the Piscataqua River experienced the loss of most of their remaining eelgrass between 2006 and 2007 (99% loss); only a few very small beds survive. The beds of ruppia in the Bellamy, Oyster and upper Piscataqua Rivers, diminished from 2005 to 2006, were gone in 2007 except for one large bed in the Bellamy River. The Portsmouth Harbor – Little Harbor area experienced a decrease in eelgrass area (11%) between 2006 and 2007. All of the Great Bay Estuary has severely decreased eelgrass beds compared to historic distributions. The ongoing eelgrass decline in Little Bay and the Piscataqua River, now best characterized as a nearly complete loss of eelgrass, continues to be a major concern; total loss of eelgrass from an area greatly diminishes the potential for natural recovery of beds. Read Report

Hampton-Seabrook Estuary Restoration

The Hampton-Seabrook Estuary Restoration Compendium (HSERC) is a compilation of information on the historic and current distributions of salt marsh and sand dune habitats and diadromous fishes within the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary watershed. By evaluating habitat loss and changes in land use over time, restoration opportunities are identified within the watershed. Restoration opportunities are not prioritized in order to allow the goals and objectives of each restoration practitioner to govern priority projects. However, in accordance with an ecosystem-based approach to restoration, areas containing multi-habitat restoration opportunities are considered to be of the highest priority. Additionally, restoration should ensure processes critical for the support of the restored components are maintained or reestablished. Coastal systems are dynamic. An ecosystem-based approach requires the understanding that some natural and human-caused changes are inevitable, and therefore, an adaptive and flexible approach to managing estuarine and watershed resources as well as specific restoration projects is needed for success. The HSERC contains maps detailing change in sand dune and saltmarsh extent over time, the current and historic distribution of 7 target diadromous fish species, and restoration opportunities within the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary and watershed.

City of Rochester Natural Resources Chapter of Master Plan
Using funds from a NHEP Local Grant, the City of Rochester Planning Department spearheaded the development of a natural resources inventory and subsequent natural resources chapter of the city's Master Plan. Working with the Strafford Regional Planning Commission, a comprehensive collection of natural resources data was compiled and used to create an inventory that includes surface water systems, wetlands, soils, forests, aquifers, and a variety of habitat types. The resulting Master Plan chapter contains detailed information about each resource, including the benefits, current uses, and potential threats. Recommendations for policy and regulatory changes are provided. Read Report

Northwood Stomwater Technologies
The Town of Northwood Water Resources Sub-Committee, understanding the importance of adequate stormwater management, and wishing to address these issues on a local level, has instituted this report. This report will attempt to explain the need for proactively dealing with stormwater issues, and describe the various technologies currently available to address these needs. One of the major thrusts of this report is to identify stormwater management practices suitable for a rural/suburban community such as Northwood. Read Report

Town of Northwood Buffer Ordinance
The Town of Northwood Planning Board and the Water Resources Subcommittee, with a Local Grant from the New Hampshire Estuaries Project, created a development ordinance to protect riparian and shoreland areas adjacent to streams, rivers, lakes and ponds in the town. If implemented by the town, the proposed shoreland protection ordinance would protect two public drinking water supplies and the headwater areas of five regional watersheds, two of which are designated rivers under the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program (Isinglass and Lamprey Rivers) and one is federally designated Wild and Scenic River (Lamprey River). Read Report

Brentwood Prime Wetlands


The Brentwood Conservation Commission hired West Environmental, Inc. (WEI) of Lee, New Hampshire to evaluate seventeen of the largest wetland systems in town (from a total of 60 wetlands identified with aerial photography). Evaluations included wetland plant community descriptions, verifications of NRCS poorly and very poorly drained soil mapping, information on field observation of wetland hydrology and wildlife habitat observations. WEI then assessed each wetland system for the presence of one or more wetland functions. Fourteen of the seventeen were ultimately selected for designation as Prime Wetlands. The fourteen candidates comprise 696 acres, representing over 22% of the town’s wetlands. A Prime Wetland Zoning Amendment was drafted and in March 2008 was approved through a town meeting vote of 427 Yes -138 No. The Designation Report was submitted to NHDES for approval. An abridged version of the report without high resolution photos can be viewed online. Contact NHEP for complete report. Read Report

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Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
11-17-08: The Technical Advisory Committee met to review draft numeric nutrient criteria which were developed by NHDES. Ru Morrison and Shachak Pe’eri from UNH also presented results from their analysis of hyperspectral imagery from the Great Bay Estuary. The meeting agenda, materials, and draft criteria are available on the NHEP website.

Upcoming Events

12-15-08: NHEP Management Committee Meeting New member orientation at 9:00 a.m., main meeting begins at 10 a.m., location Three Chimneys Inn, Durham, NH.
	1-7-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Water Resources #1 9 a.m. - Noon, location NHDES Coastal Office (Pease), Portsmouth, NH.
	1-28-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Land Use and Habitat Protection #1, 9 a.m. - Noon, location Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve.
	2-4-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Living Resources & Habitat Restoration #1, 9 a.m. - Noon, location UNH Cooperative Extension Office, Brentwood, NH.
	2-19-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Water Resources #2 9 a.m. - Noon, location Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth, NH
	3-5-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Land Use and Habitat Protection #2, 9 a.m. - Noon, location Exeter Public Library, Exeter, NH.
	3-19-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Living Resources & Habitat Restoration #2 9 a.m. - Noon, location NHDES Coastal Office (Pease), Portsmouth, NH.
	4-1-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Water Resources #3 9 a.m. - Noon, TBD
	4-15-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Land Use and Habitat Protection #3 9 a.m. - Noon, location Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center, Greenland, NH
	4-29-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Living Resources & Habitat Restoration #3 9 a.m. - Noon, location Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth, NH.

Announcements

Stakeholder meetings begin to update NHEP Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan In the first four months of 2009, a series of meetings are planned to solicit stakeholder input on goals, objectives, and action plans related to water resources, land use and development, living resources and habitat restoration, and watershed stewardship. All of the input will be considered as the new CCMP is developed over the next year.

Lamprey River Science Symposium
This event on the UNH campus will highlight a variety of current and proposed research on the Lamprey River Watershed. Exact location of the symposium has not been determined. Contact Bill McDowell at 603-862-1794 or bill.mcdowell@unh.edu for details.

NH Coastal Program Accepting 2009 Competitive Grant Applications
Yearly, the NH Coastal Program at NHDES awards federal funding to projects that address coastal resources, like water quality protection, public access and education. Grants are offered on a competitive basis to eligible applicants, and at least a one to one match is required. The maximum grant award amount has changed from past years given reduced federal funding for this program. No more than $40,000 will be awarded for any construction or land acquisition project, and no more than $30,000 will be awarded for any planning or management project. Two print copies and an electronic copy of the completed application and all associated documentation (including letters of support) are due at the NH Coastal Program office no later than Monday, January 26, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. see NH Coastal Program website for details.

Grants Awarded for Projects in New Hampshire and Maine that Enhance and Protect the Region’s Estuaries
DURHAM – The New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP) has awarded funding for seven projects, totaling $46,964.00, through its Local Grants program. Read the Press Release