Isinglass River Conservation Corridor Project

Bear-Paw Regional Greenways completed the Isinglass River Conservation Corridor Project that protected high-value conservation land along the Isinglass River and in other areas of the watershed in Strafford, New Hampshire. The $2.9 million project was a collaboration of Bear-Paw, the Trust for Public Land (TLP), and the Town of Strafford that protected five properties and 868 acres of forest, over one mile of road frontage, more than three miles of frontage on streams and rivers (including more than 1½ miles on the Isinglass River), several ponds, and two historic mill sites. All of these properties are in areas that have been identified as important to protect in the Land Conservation Plan for New Hampshire’s Coastal Watersheds. The project was primarily funded by a $1.3 million federal Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program grant that TPL secured for the purchase of a 286-acre property on the Isinglass River. Read Report

Developing 1990, 2000, and 2005 Impervious Surface Estimates for Southern York County, Maine

University of New Hampshire Center for Complex Systems estimated impervious surface acreage in 1990, 2000, and 2005 for an 11-town region in the PREP focus area. The project extended previous work done in New Hampshire, relying on comparable satellite-based data sources and image processing methodologies. As a result, standardized impervious surface estimates are now available for the entirety of the PREP region. The report indicates that 3.3% (9,098 acres) of the study area was impervious in 1990, with increases to 5.3 % (14,646 acres) in 2000 and 6.3% (17,394 acres) in 2005. At the subwatershed level, the Portsmouth Harbor subwatershed recorded the highest percentage of impervious surface acreage in 1990, 2000, and 2005 with 7.8% coverage (1,283 acres), 12.3% coverage (2,009 acres), and 14.5% coverage (2,380 acres) respectively. Read Report

Video-Based Mapping of Oyster Bottom in the Upper Piscataqua River, Sturgeon Creek, and Spruce Creek

University of New Hampshire researchers towed underwater video cameras to map and characterize the extent of oyster reefs in the upper Piscataqua River, Sturgeon Creek, and Spruce Creek. Georeferenced video imagery was obtained on five different days in summer and fall 2008. Significant shell bottom (with live oysters in most areas) was found only in the upper Piscataqua River in two areas: (1) the general location of the previously mapped (2003) upper Piscataqua River reef, and (2) in the Piscataqua River at the mouth of Sturgeon Creek. The Sturgeon Creek reef was classified into low and high density shell which covered a total area of 15.6 acres (~63,000 m2). Read Report

Testing of Great Bay Oysters for Two Protozoan Pathogens

Two protozoan pathogens, Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) and Perkinsus marinus (Dermo) are known to be present in Great Bay oysters. With funds provided by PREP in 2008, the Marine Fisheries Division of New Hampshire Fish and Game Department continued to assess the presence and intensity of both disease conditions in oysters from the major beds within the Great Bay estuarine system. Oyster tests in 2008 showed continued presence of MSX in Great Bay with infection prevalence levels similar to those recorded over the past eight years. Dermo was seen for the seventh successive year after a period 1997 to 2002 when it was found in oysters only at very low prevalence. Also present but of unknown pathogenicity are ciliate produced xenomas in gill tissue. Read Report

Announcements

NH Sea Grant RFP
The New Hampshire Sea Grant College Program announces the release of its 2010-2011 NOAA Omnibus Request for Proposals. Proposals should address one or more of the marine-related issues identified in the NH Sea Grant Strategic Plan. Pre-proposals are due on March 2, 2009 through an electronic submission procedure. Direct general questions to Linda Wade (linda.wade@unh.edu – 603-862-2987) and programmatic questions to Steve Jones (shj@unh.edu – 603-862-5124).

Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program RFP
Funds are available for the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program, which is a community-based, community-driven, multimedia demonstration program designed to help communities understand and reduce risks due to toxic pollutants and environmental concerns from all sources. Awards range from $75,000 to $300,000. Examples of projects include addressing abandoned, contaminated industrial and residential properties in Gary, IN, dealing with agriculture-related toxics in Yakima County, Wash., and reducing air emissions from diesel trucks and buses in Woonsocket, R.I. Eligible applicants include county and local governments, tribes, nonprofit organizations and universities.The closing date and time for receipt of hard copy submission of proposal packages is March 16, 2009, 4:00 p.m. Read More

New EPA Educational Stormwater Video - Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In
This new 9-minute video highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs, and rain barrels that help manage stormwater runoff in a more sustainable manner. The film, produced in partnership with the U.S. Botanic Garden, showcases green techniques that are being used in urban areas to minimize the impacts of stormwater runoff on the quality of downstream receiving waters.

Land Resource Management Workshop
This workshop is geared towards those involved with land development, and land conservation and management, from consultants and environmental professionals to municipal employees, non-profit organizations and volunteers. Topics include Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (CSPA), Alteration of Terrain, Stream Crossings, Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund, Antidegradation and Impaired Waters, Subsurface Systems Bureau.The workshop will be offered on March 6 and March 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at NHDES offices in Concord. Fee for the workshop: $15, or $20 for CEU certificate. Read More

Upcoming Events

	2-19-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Water Resources #2 9 a.m. - Noon, location Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth, NH
	2-23 & 2-24-09: National Estuary Program Annual Meeting: Washington, DC
	3-5-09: Mill Pond Dam Public Informational Meeting: 7 p.m., Town Council Chambers, Durham Town Hall. Meeting will discuss deficiencies with the current dam structure and review costs/benefits associated with dam removal or repair.
	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 1-4 p.m., Nh Fish and Game Region 3 Office, Durham, NH
	4-15-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Land Use and Habitat Protection #3 1-4 p.m. location Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center, Greenland, NH
	4-29-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Living Resources & Habitat Restoration #3 1 - 4 p.m., location Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth, NH.
	10-16-09: 2009 State of the Estuaries Conference 8 a.m. -4 p.m., location to be determined.

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