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Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative
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NH Coastal Adaptation Workgroup
NEXT WORKSHOP:
February 27th
Greenland, NH
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Think Blue Exeter!
Exeter has gone to the DUCKS! Exeter has launched a new educational outreach program about the harmful effects of stormwater pollution. Keep an eye & an ear to local TV & radio for the ducks & THINK BLUE EXETER!
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Street Team Needed!
PREP needs some street team volunteers to help us out with promotion & staffing for our upcoming events!
Could you represent PREP at the Clean Water Community Table at an event?
if you're interested in volunteering for PREP! |
 The Great Bay Dialogue has changed its name to the Great Bay Initiative to better reflect the action & effort taking place. The effort will be reinvigorated in 2013, to be linked into the updates, visit the website.
Visit the website for
more information |
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Welcome to Your Estuaries Partnership News!
We here at PREP are still basking in the glow from the great turnout and success of our State of Our Estuaries Conference back in December. The energy in the room, the inspiration from the speakers, the tacos - it was a such great day! Thanks to all of you who joined us - it was you that made it such a success. Those that couldn't join us but want to be updated on what happened visit our State of Our Estuaries website. We've posted up the PowerPoints of each talk and also videos of most of the speakers. You can also find downloadable PDFs of the report, Citizen's Guide, Policy Guide & Technical Report on the website as well.
We've also been "rolling out" the report all over the watershed & it's been wonderful to see so many interested citizens who want to discuss the issues & opportunities in our watershed, we truly are all coming together for clean water solutions. Check out the Community for Clean Water Calendar for upcoming community presentations.
From all of us at PREP, thank you for reading and most importantly for caring,
 Jill Farrell Community Impact Program Manager
The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) |
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Feature Story
The Smallest Streams Can Hold Big Surprises: Removing the Shorey's Brook Dam
Located on the town line between Eliot, and South Berwick, Maine, Shorey's Brook is only about 4 miles long. As early as the 1630's it has been dammed a few hundred feet upland from where it empties at the confluence of the Cocheco and Salmon Falls rivers (where they become the Piscataqua River). After the failing dam was removed in December of 2011, the brook has begun returning to a natural state and revealing just how important small streams connected to the estuary can be. Dams interupt the natural flow of water, sediment, and nutrients, negatively impacting habitat along tributary streams like Shorey's Brook. The most obvious impact is the physical barrier of the dam itself. Migratory fish like herring, shad, and smelt were blocked from swimming upstream to spawn. Tidal exchange was halted at the base of the dam, which greatly reduced the amount of unique habitat where salty and fresh water meet.
Those who worked to get the dam removed were encouraged by an almost immediate response from plants and animals. Prior to its removal the dam created a long pond that backed up under Route 101. The pond - which was steadily filling with leaves, plants and fine,
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A restored Shorey's Brook. The bracket on the left spans about 13 ft., from the bank of the brook to the top of what used to be the dam.
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heavy silt - is now a lush meadow full of birds, small mammals, and countless grass species. The biggest response came from fish. When spring arrived, rainbow smelt and their eggs were found in the restored brook upstream from the dam site, and hundreds of baby and adult American eels were found all the way up to Route 101. Most astonishing of all, American brook lamprey - a state listed endangered species - were found in tiny Shorey's Brook.
With so many streams like Shorey's Brook flowing throughout the Piscataqua region, imagine the natural and cultural history waiting to be rediscovered! Restoring and protecting the health of the Piscataqua region will happen in increments. Sometimes they may first appear to be insignificant, but each stream, woodland, meadow, or wetland is part of the whole ecosystem that sustains insects, plants, animals and people!
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Watershed Watch
Our Watershed Watch feature is dedicated to sharing our partners' and others latest research and reports. If you have, or know of a report you would like us to feature in an upcoming issue of Downstream, please contact us and we will be happy to include it.
Low Impact Development (LID) "Barrier Busters"
Fact Sheets
By: US EPA
This seven-part series of fact sheets is primarily intended for state
 and local decision makers who are considering adoption of Low Impact Development (LID), but who have concerns with LID. These fact sheets explain the benefits of LID in clear terms and through examples. Specific fact sheets in this series directly address specific concerns that have been raised about adopting LID, thereby busting barriers.
Check out all 7 Fact Sheets here.
Climate Change Indicators in the US 2012 Report & Webinar
By: US EPA
This report brings together data from multiple public datasets to
show observed changes over time in 26 indicators of climate change - including measures of high and low temperatures, rainfall,snowfall, pollen season and sea level rise. These indicators present compelling evidence that our climate is changing now and is already affecting society and ecosystems.
Join a webinar Monday, Jan. 28th from 2:00pm-3:30pm. EPA staff will discuss how the report was developed, highlighting key points of the report and how information was gathered and synthesized. A brief demonstration of the climate indicators website and a question-and-answer session will follow.
Register for the webinar here
Download the entire report here
New Rain Garden Smart Phone App
By: University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education & Research
Get out that smartphone and download this slick new app that is  targeted to homeowners and contractors, and leads the user through the proper siting, sizing, construction, planting and maintenance of a rain garden. It includes nifty tools to help the user figure out the proper size of the garden, find out about local soil conditions, get a handle on the price of construction, and customize a plant list that will delight the eye while soaking up stormwater. In addition, there are 6 short video segments explaining various aspects of rain garden care and feeding.
Info on the app can be found here.
Download the app from the Apple App Store here.
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Green Infrastructure Project 
This exciting new project will deliver customized no-cost technical assistance and educational resources to municipalities focused on stormwater management needs. This is a fantastic opportunity for municipal officials, planners, local watershed and river advisory committees & groups. With just some of your time you will get high quality help in implementing tools to help protect your community's clean water, protect your infrastructure and become safer for future storms. The project is a combined effort from the Rockingham and Strafford Regional Planning Commissions, the Southeast Watershed Alliance, Antioch University, Great Bay NERR, Geosyntec and the UNH Stormwater Center - talk about coming together for clean water solutions!
The first advisory board meeting is Thursday, January 31 from 4:00pm-7:00pm and includes dinner, stay tuned for location.
For more info on the project & to fill out the Project Interest Form to become involved check out the project website. |
 The Clean Water Community Calendar
As the Community for Clean Water, one of PREP's goals is to keep you informed on the latest outings, conferences, workshops and FUN happening around our watershed so that you, your family, friends & neighbors can get involved!
Below is our run-down for February. If you have, or know of an event that you would like us to feature in an upcoming issue of Downstream, please contact us!
Thursday, January 23rd
Durham/UNH Integrated Permit Stakeholder Meeting
7:00pm-8:30pm
Madbury Town Hall, 13 Town Hall Rd., Madbury, NH.
Do you live in the Oyster River Watershed? The Town of Durham wants to know what you think about the water, wastewater and land use in the watershed. The town is beginning a study on the watershed in order to develop an integrated watershed management plan to help reduce pollution, control nitrogen and protect Durham's clean water and they need the public's input and help.
If you can't make tonight's meeting but want to be engaged in the process contact David Cedarholm at 603-868-5578 or email him at dcedarholm@ci.durham.nh.us.
Thursday, January 31st
Green Infrastructure Advisory Board Meeting
4:00pm - 7:00pm
Contact Julie LaBranche for Location Details
See article above for details on this project.
Friday, February 1st
Seacoast Local's Epic 50 Mile Chef Challenge 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. Stages at One Washington, 1 Washington St., Dover, NH Chef Evan Hennessey will take on the challenge of cooking a wonderful meal with all ingredients sourced less than a 50-mile radius. No citrus, no imported sugar, salt or oil.
Dinner is $50/per person with all proceeds benefitting Seacoast Local's ReRootEd Program. Make your reservation for this epic dining experience here.
Monday, Feb. 4th Moose Mountains Regional Greenways Annual Meeting
6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. The Wolfeboro Inn, 90 N Main St., Wolfeboro, NH
This festive occasion will include a cocktail/social hour and silent auction, a served sit down dinner, a slide show and talk by Maine NEMO Educator Lamarr Clannon, presentations of MMRG awards, and a brief business meeting and update on MMRG news.
The Wolfeboro Inn will offer a three course dinner including a winter soup, a choice of chicken, beef, or vegetarian entrée served with potatoes and vegetables, and dessert. The cost is $25 for the chicken or vegetarian dinner and $30 for the beef option. The public is welcome to join this annual community celebration of Moose Mountains Regional Greenways. Spaces are limited and RSVP's are required; to reserve a place (or to donate an auction item), please contact Executive Director Virginia Long. Call (603) 473-2020, email info@mmrg.info or mail your check to MMRG, PO Box 191, Union, NH 03887; Attn: Dinner.
Friday, February 22nd
Seacoast Local's Epic 50 Mile Chef Challenge
6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
The Kitchen, 171 Islington St., Portsmouth, NH
Chefs Michael Prete & Matt Greco will take on the challenge of cooking a wonderful meal with all ingredients sourced less than a 50-mile radius. No citrus, no imported sugar, salt or oil.
Dinner is $50/per person with all proceeds benefitting Seacoast Local's ReRootEd Program.
Check out the fantastic menu & Make your reservation for this epic dining experience here
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Wednesday, February 27th
NH Climate Adaptation Workgroup Workshop: Building Resilience Through Better Floodplain Management
5:00pm-8:30pm
Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center at the Great Bay Discovery Center, Greenland, NH
Join us in the sixth of a series of community conversations about climate and preparedness for severe weather events. Learn what communities can do to minimize risks to people and property within floodplains. Find out more about what to expect and see a draft agenda by viewing the Workshop Flyer. There is no charge for the workshop, but space is limited. A light dinner will be provided. Please register by February 24 to Steve.Miller@wildlife.nh.gov or 603-778-0015. Include your name, affiliation, contact information, and any special accommodation needed.
State of Our Estuaries Roll-Out Events
Beginning in December 2012 and continuing throughout 2013, PREP will be partnering with area hosts to convene roll-out events. These community presentations will share the 22 Indicators from the 2013 State of Our Estuaries Report with community members from around the watershed and allow opportunities to have a dialogue about the data and the solutions.
Monday, February 18th
6:00-8:00 p.m
Gundalow Offices, 60 Marcy St., Portsmouth, NH
Hosted by the Gundalow Company's Contemporary Coastal Issues Series
Tuesday, February 19th
Newmarket Community Forum on The Health of The Great Bay Estuary
7:00-9:00pm
Newmarket Town Hall
Hosted by the Newmarket Conservation Commssion a panel discussion including Rachel & Jill from PREP, Michelle Daly from UNH Water Resource Research Center, Ray Konisky from The Nature Conservancy and Sean Greig, Town of Newmarket's Wastewater Superintendent and facilitated by Peter Wellenberger, Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper.
Monday, February 25th
6:30-8:30
Brentwood Recreation Center, 190 Route 125, Brentwood, NH
If your club, organization, neighborhood or group would like to host a State of Our Estuaries Roll Out Event in 2013, please e-mail us and we'll be in touch to organize a date!
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