Save Great Bay

 

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Tap In Film, Speaker Series at UNH

This spring promises to be wetter than usual at the University of New Hampshire, when Tap In, a series of films and a lecture about water issues, begins to flow Feb. 16, 2010. The series will explore issues of water privatization, access, quality and even the spiritual significance of water with four award-winning documentary films (Feb. 16 and 22, March 22, April 20) and a lecture by water rights activist Maude Barlow on March 4.

“Tap In,” sponsored by the UNH Office of Sustainability along with Food & Water Watch, offers the events, which are all free and open to the public.

For more details on the series, read the full press release.

Spring Kick-off for Landscapers, March 17

Co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Landscaper’s Association and UNH Cooperative Extension, this day long conference will teach  both amatuear and professional landscapers techniques and considerations in sustainable landscaping. The conference will be held at the New Hampshire Technical Institute, Concord NH.

For more information and registration instructions, view the workshop brochure.

Coastal Estuarine Land Conservation Program Grant Round Opens

The New Hampshire Coastal Program at the Department of Environmental Services is currently accepting proposals for the Coastal Estuarine Land Conservation Program FFY2011 funding cycle. CELCP, a tremendously competitive national program, aims to protect coastal lands with significant ecological value. Qualifying land protection projects in New Hampshire must be located within the 42 coastal watershed towns and provide a one to one match. In addition, lands designated as priorities for protection in New Hampshire are identified in N.H.’s CELCP Plan.

The CELCP RFP is now posted on the Coastal Program website.

Links to articles on dredging material public info meeting on Jan 5

Follow-up articles on dredging material:

Seacoast Online, January 6: Dredge plan stirs worry for York residents

Seacoast Online, January 13: US Army Corps U.S. Army Corps of Engineers backs away from plan to dump dredged sand off Long Sands Beach in York

River protection has benefits

Exeter-Newsletter: Letter to the Editor: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100105-OPINION-1050339

January 05, 2010 2:00 AM

By Mike Kappler

The Lamprey River Watershed is in the region of the state undergoing the most rapid growth, with pressures from development that affect the environment in the river corridor.

Although the Lamprey River is 47 miles long, currently only 12 miles of the river, in Lee and Durham, are in the state rivers protection program. The goal of the Lamprey River Nominating Committee (LRNC) is to add the remaining segments of the Lamprey River and several of its major tributaries into the N.H. DES Rivers Management and Protection Program (RMPP) in accordance with NH RSA 483. The benefits of expanding this designation to add all the river into the RMPP include:

1. Increased protection against water quality impairment in the river corridor, damaging channel alterations, new dam construction, and solid or hazardous waste facilities constructed less than ¼ mile from its banks.

2. Expansion of Lamprey River Local Advisory Committee (LRLAC), the rivers current committee, to coordinate management and protection of the river at the local and regional levels, providing riverfront communities with a direct avenue for formal input into state decisions affecting the river.

3. Development of a locally written long-range management plan for the river that coordinates local values for water quality and supply, historic resources and recreation.

“The Lamprey River is an important natural and cultural resource providing abundant clean water, wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, historic character, and recreation for all the communities within the watershed. State designation will ensure that these qualities are protected. Designation of the remaining segments of the river and its major tributaries will bring more citizens and communities together to develop an integrated strategy to manage and protect the river.” said Jim Hadley, of Northwood, LRNC chairman.

The segments of the river requiring protection begins at the headwaters in Northwood at the lake, in Northwood Meadows State Park, to the Epping and Lee town lines, and the tidal portion of the Lamprey in Newmarket. The major tributaries include: the North Branch River in Candia and Raymond; the Little River, Bean River, and North River in Nottingham; the Pawtuckaway River in Nottingham and Raymond; and the Piscassic River flowing from Fremont to Newmarket.

The Lamprey River Nominating Committee is working in partnership with the Lamprey River Watershed Association, the Lamprey River Local Advisory Committee, and with the “Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program” of the National Park Service (NPS) in this nomination effort.

The LRNC asks for your support in this nomination. Public hearings will be scheduled in early 2010 and letters of support are welcome. We especially ask for supporting letters from town governments, planning boards, conservation committees, and legislators from the communities in the watershed. Strong local support is necessary for a successful application. Letters of support may be sent to: Lamprey River Nomination Committee, 43 North River Rd., Lee, N.H. 03861. The next LRNC meeting is Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Raymond Fire Station, off Route 101, Exit 4, in Raymond. For more information, contact me at l.mikekappler@comcast.net.

Mike Kappler is a Republican state representative from Raymond.

Informational Meeting Tonight at 6 pm on potential dredged sand disposal off of Long Sands Beach

From  Seacoast online, “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection will hold an informational meeting at 6 p.m. today in the York Public Library to discuss the potential for dredged sand to be dumped in the ocean off Long Sands Beach.”  The Piscataqua River in Elliot Maine is slated to be dredged for shipping.

Read the full article in Seacoast online.

New definition of Wetlands in Portsmouth Zoning Ordinance Adopted

The Portsmouth City Council adopted changes to the city’s Zoning Ordinance, which will go into effect this Friday.  The changes include changing the definition of wetlands to include smaller areas. According to an article that appeared in today’s   Seacoast online,  “changing from 21,780 square feet (a half acre) to 10,000 square feet —approximately the size of two basketball courts — will mean more property owners will be required to receive a conditional use permit to make changes to their property inside the wetland buffer. That process requires review of the Conservation Commission and ultimate approval of the Planning Board.”

Read the full article on Seacoast Online.

Sharon Meeker wins Evelyn Browne Conservation Award

Congratulations to Sharon Meeker of the Lamprey River Advisory Committee Board and the Lamprey River Watershed Association for winning the annual Evelyn Browne Conservation Award presented by the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The award is given  to a person who has made great contributions to the protection of the Great Bay watershed.

Find out more in the Seacoast online article.

In the News: Greenland Conservation Commission Presents Nitrogen Ban Proposal to Town

Greenland debates fertilizer ban for cleaner Great Bay, article in Seacoastonline published on December 19.

Reminder: Lamprey River Symposium Coming Soon

News from the Strafford Regional Planning Commisison E-Bulletin:

The Third Annual Lamprey River Symposium on Friday,  January 8, 2010 is just a few weeks away. The all day event will be held at UNH in the MUB room 334/336.  Anyone who would like to share their research on water quality, hydrology, water resource issues and management of the Lamprey River basin is welcome and encouraged to do so.  If you are a manager and have issues that you’d like to speak to the scientists about at this event, we would encourage that as well. 

If you would like to attend this annual event, please email Michelle Daley by Friday January 1 and your name will be added to the attendance list.  Registration is free, but there is a $8/day parking fee for folks who do not have a UNH parking permit. Light refreshments will be provided.

If you are interested in presenting at this symposium, please contact Michelle Daley with a preliminary presentation title by Monday Dec. 21. She will organize the schedule and get back to folks by January 1. We envision time for talks as well as breakout sessions in the agenda and will have a room for poster displays.   If you are interested in viewing the available presentations from last years event please visit Symposium 2009 Presentations.