Estuaries Update #74: Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership

June 2009, #74

Featured Item

May PREP Activities

New Publications

NHDES Drinking Water Source Protection Workshop
5-1-09: PREP staff attended the NHDES Drinking Water Source Protection Workshop that focused on regional, state, and local efforts to protect drinking water supplies.

Year 14 Work Plan

The Year 14 Work Plan identifies PREP’s priorities and projects planned for 2010. In 2010, PREP will begin implementation of its new Management Plan, which is currently being developed. Activities to be implemented using EPA National Estuary Program funds are described and the overall budget is presented. In addition the Work Plan reports on recent accomplishments and projects that occurred between May 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009 to implement the PREP Management Plan. Read Plan

Announcements

Rivers Cruise: Piscataqua and Cochecho Rivers - Saturday, June 6, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm
This cruise is hosted by the Strafford Rivers Conservancy and Great Works Regional Land Trust and highlights river history, water quality and conserved properties along the shores. Cost is $35 for members of the Strafford Rivers Conservancy or Great Works Regional Land Trust, $45 for non-members. Space is limited to 20. Advanced payment is required. Register online or contact the Strafford Rivers Conservancy at (603) 516-0772 or by email . This program is co-sponsored by the Great Works Regional Land Trust and funded in part by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

Your Water, Your Wallet, Your Watershed – Why Working Together Across Town Boundaries Makes $ense For Protecting Our Water - Saturday, June 13, 2009, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
This conference will address key topics of concern to residents in the Lamprey River watershed including stormwater, land use planning, water quality and quantity, public health, community identity, culture and heritage. Participants will include municipal planning officials, regional planning commissioners, members of the scientific community, developers/realtors, members of non-governmental organizations and other interested individuals. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available for a variety of fields. This conference is a collaborative effort by the Lamprey River Watershed Association, Coastal Training Program of the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Lamprey River Advisory Committee, Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership, and the New Hampshire Water Resources Research Center. The conference will be held at the Nottingham Town Hall on Saturday, June 13, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registration is free. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. To register, contact Dawn Genes at the Lamprey River Watershed Association at dawn.genes@lrwa-nh.org or (603) 659-9363. See Description and Agenda

Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Planning - Thursday, June 18, 6:30 to 9:00 pm
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge recently initiated its comprehensive conservation planning process. During the planning process, which may take up to two to three years, the planning team will evaluate refuge wildlife, habitat, land protection, and visitor service priorities. The public is invited to help shape the plan by participating in an open house and public meeting on Thursday, June 18, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at the Newington Town Hall on 205 Nimble Hill Road, Newington, NH. For more information email fw5rw_prnwr@fws.gov

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.

Upcoming Events

6-13-09: Your Water, Your Wallet, Your Watershed – Why Working Together Across Town Boundaries Makes $ense For Protecting Our Water 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., at Nottingham Town Hall, Nottingham, NH. Register at dawn.genes@lrwa-nh.org

6-25-09: PREP Management Committee Meeting 9 a.m. -12:00 p.m., at Seabrook Station, Seabrook, NH

8-26-09: VIP Tours of the Great Bay Estuary 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., location UNH pier in Newcastle. Registration begins in late 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 late June.

10-16-09: 2009 State of the Estuaries Conference 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., location Great Bay Gallery, Somersworth, NH. Register

Public Hearing on Oyster River Dam
5-4-09: PREP staff provided testimony to the Durham Town Council describing the potential ecological benefits of removing the Mill Pond dam and the need to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study.

Seabrook CTAP Meeting
5-6-09: PREP staff is working with the Town of Seabrook, Rockingham Planning Commission, and potentially the Southeast Land Trust to identify and protect remaining undeveloped shorelands and wetlands around the Hampton-Seabrook estuary. The group is also working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to explore the possibility of establishing a national wildlife refuge or management unit around the estuary.

Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
5-11-09: PREP staff presented a draft environmental indicator report to the committee that will become the source of information for the 2009 State of the Estuaries report. Read Minutes

Work Plan Submitted to EPA
5-14-09: PREP staff submitted the Year 14 Work Plan for 2010 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The work plan outlines priorities and activities to be undertaken using EPA National Estuary Program funds, and it reports on accomplishments from the previous year. Read Plan

Stonehouse Pond Site Walk
5-16-09: PREP staff joined a site walk organized by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and St rafford Rivers Conservancy to help raise awareness of conservation efforts surrounding Stonehouse Pond in Barrington, NH. PREP has awarded funding to assist TPL in protecting 250 acres surrounding the picturesque waterbody in the Cocheco River watershed.

Land Protection Celebration
5-18-09: PREP staff attended a celebratory event marking the protection of more than 5,000 acres by the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership.

Kittery CTAP Meeting
5-20-09: PREP staff met with representatives from Kittery to begin development of an outreach effort designed to educate citizens about recent changes to local land use ordinances that affect wetland buffers. This project is part of the PREP Community Technical Assistance Program.

Brentwood CTAP Kick-off Meeting
5-21-09: PREP and members of the Natural Resource Outreach Coalition (NROC) attended a CTAP project kick-off meeting to develop improved stormwater management regulations in partnership with the Brentwood Planning Board and Conservation Commission. The UNH Stormwater Center presented an overview of stormwater management issues. Vanasse Hangen and Brustlin is the technical service provider on the project and will draft a new ordinance and site plan and subdivision regulations.

CCMP Land Use Meeting #3
5-21-09: Over 20 stakeholders participated in this work session held at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve to prioritize and further develop action plans for the Management Plan. This was the final stakeholder meeting in the initial phase of the PREP Management Plan update.

ERLAC Meeting to Discuss Wild and Scenic Designation
5-26-09: PREP staff attended the Exeter River Local Advisory Committee meeting that, in part, included a discussion about including the Exeter and Squamscott Rivers in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program. State Representative Judith Spang spoke to the group about the Lamprey River designation process and Chuck Gilboy of Representative Carol Shea-Porter's office relayed the Congresswomen's support for the effort.

NHDES CCMP Meeting
5-27-09: PREP conducted a focused stakeholder meeting with the NH Department of Environmental Services to review goals and objectives and get additional feedback on action plans identified through the stakeholder input process.

Epping CTAP Meeting
5-28-09: PREP staff met with the Town of Epping and the technical assistant provider to initiate plans for the CTAP project to develop baseline stewardship information for nearly 30 town-held conservation easements.

Eye on Estuaries
5-29-09: The trouble with herring: Multiple challenges face declining fish population. Published in Hampton Union.

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