A Year in Review and a View of the Future: A summary of PREP program activities in 2008 and plans in 2009 that protect, restore, and monitor the region's estuaries

This report includes summaries of the 2008 Community Technical Assistance Program, the Local Grants Program, and the Land Transaction Grant Program. It also describes the PREP work to set numeric limits for nutrients entering Great Bay. Research summaries of oyster reef mapping in Maine, the Climate Ready Estuaries culvert study, and the development of impervious surface estimates for southern York County are featured. Copies of this 16-page booklet were sent to all state and federal legislators representing the PREP focus area and to everyone in Maine on the PREP mailing list. Read Report

Eelgrass Mapping: Great Bay Estuary for 1981

Eelgrass meadow polygons for 1981 were mapped from USDA black-and-white aerial photographs, on file at the Strafford County and Rockingham County (NH) offices. The mapping shows extensive eelgrass distribution throughout the Great Bay Estuary, except in areas where the photography was not adequate to interpret the images (primarily Portsmouth Harbor, the Oyster River, and the upper Bellamy River). As the maps show, and as verified by the NH Fish and Game maps of the same time frame (Nelson, 1981), there was much more eelgrass in Little Bay and the Piscataqua River in 1981 than 2007, the most recent mapping date for the estuary. The 1981 eelgrass distribution and cover map for the Great Bay Estuary represents an “earliest available” comprehensive map of the resource, as no earlier photography has been found with adequate tidal conditions to allow eelgrass mapping. Read Report

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Suspended Solids Concentrations in Tributaries to the Great Bay Estuary Watershed in 2008

The purpose of this study was to collect representative data on nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment concentrations in tributaries to the Great Bay Estuary in 2008. Grab samples were collected from the head-of-tide stations on eight tributaries to the Great Bay Estuary on a monthly frequency from March to December. The samples were analyzed for total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS). The data will be used to calculate nitrogen and sediment loads to the estuary in the 2009 State of the Estuaries Report. The highest TN concentrations occurred in the Cocheco River (station 07-CCH). Most of the water samples had TP concentrations less than 0.06 mg P/L. However, there were sharp spikes in TP concentrations above this level at several stations. Suspended solids concentrations at all the stations followed the same pattern with a peak concentration in June 2008. The average TSS concentration was highest in the Oyster River and lowest in the Lamprey River. Read Report

A Citizen's Guide to Protecting Sandown's Wetlands and Water Resources

Every household in Sandown (2267) received an 8-page newspaper designed primarily to increase awareness and protection of wetland and riparian buffers in the town to protect water quality. The town also received an electronic version to post on the town website and about 600 copies of the newspaper to distribute to new residents and at special events. The Conservation Commission initiated this project by applying to the PREP Community Technical Assistance Program. Topics of the outreach piece include impervious surface cover in Sandown, wetland and riparian buffer management, the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act, Prime Wetlands, and vernal pool identification and protection. In addition to community members, other authors contributed articles to the piece including staff from PREP, UNH Cooperative Extension, and NHDES Watershed Management Bureau. Read the Newspaper

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Upcoming Events

	4-15-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Land Use and Habitat Protection #2 1 - 4 p.m. locastion Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center, Greenland, NH - wiki
	4-14-09: PREP Public Outreach and Education Team Meeting 9 - 11a.m. location Seacoast Media Group, Portsmouth, NH
	4-29-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Living Resources & Habitat Restoration #3 1 - 4 p.m., location Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth, NH - wiki
	5-21-09: Stakeholder Meeting: Land Use and Habitat Protection #3 9 a.m. - Noon., location Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. Wells ME - wiki
	5-11-09: PREP Technical Advisory Committee 1 - 3 p.m., location NHDES Coastal Office, Pease Tradeport, Portsmouth
	8-26-09: VIP Tours of the Great Bay Estuary 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., location UNH pier in Newcastle. Registration begins in June.
	9-12-09: VIP Tours of the Great Bay Estuary 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., location UNH pier in Newcastle. Registration begins in June.
	10-16-09: 2009 State of the Estuaries Conference 8 a.m..- 4 p.m., location Great Bay Gallery, Somersworth, NH.

Announcements
PREP Grant/Program Opportunities
Planning Boards and Conservation Commissions from New Hampshire and Maine communities in the PREP focus area are eligible to apply for project assistance through the Community Technical Assistance Program. Municipalities and conservation organizations can apply to PREP's Land Transaction Grant Program for funding to support transaction costs for projects in New Hampshire's coastal watersheds.

PREP Supports Municipal Registration Fees for Stormwater Center Workshops
In 2009, the UNH Stormwater Center is conducting a series of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) workshops at its field facility on the Durham campus. PREP will pay registration fees for municipal staff and Planning Board and Conservation Commission members for the 52 Maine and New Hampshire communities in the PREP focus area. Register at Stormwater Center’s website. Confirm eligibility by contacting PREP.

Oiled Wildlife Volunteer Training Workshop

The NH Department of Environmental Services, NH Department of Fish & Game, the Coastal Response Research Center at University of New Hampshire, and Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Inc have partnered to offer an "Oiled Wildlife Volunteer Training" workshop that includes information on safety, medical protocols and cleaning techniques as well as rehabilitation needs of animals both before and after cleaning. Pre-registration is required and attendance is limited to this free workshop that begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18, 2009. Contact Rebecca Dunne at rdunne@tristatebird.org or 302-737-9543 x109 to register.