The Great Bay Dialogue is being convened by PREP to foster increased communication, coordination, and collaboration within the Great Bay Watershed. The goal of the effort is to reverse the decline of the ecological health of the Great Bay Estuary and the rivers and streams that flow into it. Funding support to launch this effort has been provided by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to hire a professional facilitator, Jeff Edelstein, who is tasked with coordinating the dialogue, providing follow-up, and serving as a full-time support staff to all parties involved in the process.

Many governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and individuals have been working for years on the challenge of cleaning up the bay. Yet, despite these good efforts, pollution continues to increase and environmental pressures are growing even faster than efforts to mitigate them, while financial resources at the local, state and federal levels are stretched thin. Recent activity to address one part of the problem, wastewater discharges, has both heightened the public interest and awakened many stakeholders to the need to increase collaborative efforts throughout the watershed's 52 communities (42 in N.H. and 10 in Maine).

The Great Bay Dialogue provides a structured setting for information-exchange, problem-solving, priority-setting, and action. Building on the momentum of the initial meeting on December 7, 2011, which was attended by over 100 people, action teams have been formed including both structural (financial resources; monitoring/research; integrated watershed management; organizational coordination) and topical issues (fertilizer impact reduction; oyster restoration; septic systems; outreach/ BMP implementation).

The teams are holding initial meetings throughout this winter. Mr. Edelstein and representatives from the leading watershed organizations and agencies will assess the outcomes of these meetings and recommend next steps for the Great Bay Dialogue in late winter.

More information on the dialogue's goals, structure, and focus areas and how to participate can be found at: http://www.prep.unh.edu/GreatBayDialogue.htm 

Featured Partner:
NextEra Seabrook Invests in Clean Water Monitoring & Science 

From left: Jill Farrell, Sarah Gebo, Al Legendre, and Rachel Rouillard

We at PREP are excited to announce our continued partnership with NextEra Energy's Seabrook Station! NextEra recently donated $13,000 to support PREP projects in the Hampton-Seabrook estuary. Al Legendre, who is NextEra's environmental engineer and a member of PREP's Management Committee, has been instrumental in building and maintaining this partnership. A major portion of the donation will likely fund the installation of a tidal gauge in the estuary, which will track tidal fluctuations, storm surges and changes in sea level. Information from the new gauge will be used in a storm surge warning system which will be of direct use to Hampton-Seabrook estuary communities for coastal flooding preparedness.

The Seabrook Station isn't just for nuclear physicists! Head over to the Seabrook visitor center Monday-Thursday between 10am and 3pm to experience marine life up-close at their Science and Nature Center. Ever stand on the shore and wonder what's really living beneath the crashing waves? In the marine touch pool you can see, touch, and even hold creatures like Sea Stars, Urchins, Anemones, and Crabs that live along New England coastlines. Come meet Chilly Willie, the famous blue lobster. He's literally one in a million! Only about one in every 2 million lobsters will have a bright blue shell. Or go for a stroll along the Owascoag Nature Trail through Salt Marsh, Hemlock and Beech groves, and salt pannes. See if you can spot snow-white Egrets or noisy Kingfisher hunting Mummichogs in the salty pools, or bright green praying mantis in the grasses and reeds.  Click here to visit their website for more information

 

For our first installment of PREP's Clean Water Champion, a

Peter Wellenberger feeling at home around Great Bay

monthly feature that profiles the people and partners working to make a difference around Great Bay, we caught up with Peter Wellenberger.

As the new Great Bay - Piscataqua Waterkeeper, we wanted to learn more about Peter's background,  his interests and why he loves Great Bay so much.

Below is an excerpt from our conversation:

 

PREP: How long have you been a champion for clean water?

Peter: For the past twenty-two years, I served as manager of the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. This was my first opportunity to become involved with water quality issues. I have also worked with scientists like Rich Langan to establish ecosystem monitoring stations around the Great Bay estuary that help identify key water quality issues, and develop plans for improving the health of our ecosystem.   

PREP: How did you get started in protecting clean water? 

PREP: What's your favorite thing to do in or on water?

Peter: My favorite water activity is kayaking. In my younger years, I loved sailing and canoeing and once had a job leading wilderness canoe trips. However, once I tried kayaking I was hooked for life. I love gliding through the water and having the ability to explore areas that are too shallow for larger boats. My wife and I now own five kayaks!

PREP: What's been your proudest moment as a clean water champion?

Peter: The proudest accomplishment in my professional career was protecting most of the land in Durham and Newmarket that Onassis had once proposed for his refinery. The Crommet Creek watershed is a beautiful complex of freshwater wetlands dominated by beaver dams. An area rich in waterfowl is now protected from future development. And the potential for more runoff to an already stressed estuary is avoided.

PREP: What are some simple things people can do to protect the places around the Seacoast they love?

Peter: There are so many things we can all do to protect our favorite places in the Seacoast. Simple things like using less lawn fertilizer and never pouring anything toxic down a storm drain are important to protect our water quality. We also need to tell our friends and neighbors how lucky we are to live in such a special place. Everyone goes about enjoying their lives but not enough of us take an active role in protecting what is so special and dear to us.

Follow Peter's adventures on and off the water on Facebook and Twitter. 

If you or someone you know would like to be featured as a PREP Clean Water Champion, please e-mail us. 

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Listening Session for input about the restructuring of the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act

Location: Urban Forestry Center
Address: 45 Elwyn Rd., Portsmouth, NH

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
RSVP, Details, Directions & More Info CLICK HERE 

March 9, 2012

Public Hearing on 2 Proposed Great Bay Shellfish Operations

Location: NH Fish & Game Offices
Address: 225 Main St., Durham, NH

Time: 9:00 am

Details & Proposal Documents CLICK HERE  

MARCH 22, 2012 

The Strafford Regional Planning Commission Source Protection Workshop - Planning for our Local Water Supply

Location: Rochester Community Center, Conference Room 1A, Rochester, NH

Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 PM

Register by email or phone - 603.994.3500 

Please register no later than Thurs. 3/16 as seating is limited.

Full Agenda, Directions and More Info CLICK HERE  

PREP is now accepting applications for 2012 Piscataqua Region Land Protection Transaction Grants.  

PREP is offering matching grants of up to $4,000 per project to assist with transaction costs for permanent land protection projects (conservation easements, full fee acquisitions, donations) within the Piscataqua Region coastal watershed area (coastal New Hampshire and part of Southern Maine).  

Grants can be awarded to either qualified nonprofit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) conservation organizations or units of government. Currently, a total of $20,000 is available for the 2012 grant round, with a limit of one application per eligible organization.  Proposals are due by 5 PM June 1, 2012. 

Intersted parties should complete a Request for Proposals document with the required application form (Microsoft Word format). The application can be downloaded at http://www.prep.unh.edu/grants.htm.

Once completed, please e-mail to Derek Sowers at Derek.sowers@unh.edu.