A Citizen's Guide to Protecting Greenland's Water Resources

Through PREP Community Technical Assistance Program, the Greenland Conservation Commission created a newspaper that included articles on the Town's new Natural Resource Inventory, stormwater management techniques around the home, invasive plants, buffer landscaping, conservation subdivisions, Prime Wetlands, Winnicut River restoration, and wetland and riparian buffer protection. The Town received 2,100 copies of the newspaper and one was mailed to each household on September 30. An evaluation is planned in late October to gauge the publication's affect on residents' attitudes toward water resource protection. Read Newspaper

2008 Great Bay Water Quality (Datasonde) Monitoring Program

As part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), the Great Bay System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) produces in situ water quality data for four sites in and around Great Bay. In 2008, PREP funding was used to extend the SWMP program to include year-round in situ data for a station at the University of New Hampshire Coastal Marine Lab pier at the mouth of the Piscataqua River and summer data for a station in the Salmon Falls River. The in situ water quality monitoring program provides important data on basic water quality parameters in the Great Bay Estuary. Read Report

2008 Great Bay Organic Nitrogen (PON & DON) and Light Extinction (PAR) Monitoring Program

The University of New Hampshire provides an analysis of particulate organic nitrogen (PON), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) at existing sample sites in the New Hampshire seacoast region. Read Report

Using Moored Arrays and Hyperspectral Aerial Imagery to Develop Nutrient Criteria for New Hampshire’s Estuaries

Increasing nitrogen concentrations and declining eelgrass beds in Great Bay are clear indicators of impending problems for the state’s estuaries. In 2007, the New Hampshire Estuaries Project received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to collect water quality information including that from moored sensors and hyper-spectral imagery data of the Great Bay Estuary. Read Report

Macroalgae and eelgrass mapping in Great Bay Estuary using AISA hyperspectral imagery

A hyperspectral imagery survey was conducted by SpecTIR in August 2007 using an AISA Eagle sensor. The collected dataset was used to map eelgrass and nuisance macroalgae throughout the Great Bay Estuary. This report outlines the configured procedure for mapping the macroalgae and eelgrass beds using hyperspectral imagery. Read Report

Announcements

Restoration Celebration at Former Winnicut Dam Site
On Thursday, October 15, from 2:00– 3:30 p.m. at the Winnicut Dam in Greenland, NH, coastal restoration partners and dignitaries will commemorate two tremendous accomplishments for New Hampshire’s estuaries: the Winnicut Dam Removal Project and the new Partnership to Restore New Hampshire’s Estuaries. For more information, contact: Cathy Coletti, Coastal Program Communications, Coordinator (603) 559-0024, catherine.coletti@des.nh.gov

PREP Supports Municipal Registration Fees for Stormwater Center Workshops
In October 2009, the UNH Stormwater Center is conducting two 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.

Stormwater Retrofitting Webcast
NHDES will be hosting a Center for Watershed Protection Stormwater Retrofitting webcast at its Coastal Office on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Bring your own lunch. There will be no charge to attend, but pre-registration is required. Contact Barbara McMillan at barbara.mcmillan@des.nh.gov or call 603.559.0022.

Taking Action for Wildlife Workshop
On Thursday October 22, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. a workshop entitled Taking Action for Wildlife will be held at GBNERR’s Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center. This is an opportunity for municipal planning officials to learn how to recognize habitats critical to the survival of species at risk, use information in the NH Wildlife Action Plan, identify actions you can take to conserve wildlife in your community, and incorporate wildlife considerations into your municipal planning documents. The workshop will include a brief overview of the NH Wildlife Action Plan, hands-on exercises, and a discussion of how towns can incorporate wildlife habitat needs into their conservation planning. The event will include a light dinner. There is no charge for the workshop but registration is required by Monday October 19. To register or if you have questions call Steve at 778-0015 ext. 305 or email at Steve.Miller@Wildlife.nh.gov.

Save Great Bay Website
A new clearinghouse for web-based information is now available at Savegreatbay.org

Newcastle Restoration Site Visit
9-17-09: Staff met with landowners and representatives from the Newcastle Conservation Commission and Rockingham County Conservation District (RCCD) to assess a coastal marsh restoration opportunity in Newcastle. PREP restoration funds will be used to support RCCD's work performing a detailed site evaluation and developing restoration options.

Upcoming Events