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NH Coastal Adaptation Workgroup
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Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative
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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! |
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Welcome to Your Estuaries Partnership News!
It was a year ago this month, on December 7th that we hosted the 2012 State of Our Estuaries Conference and released the 2013 State of Our Estuaries Report. There was such fantastic energy and excitement in the room that day and the presentations and panel discussions were so rich and valuable. We thought we'd revisit them this month, in case you weren't able to attend or maybe forgot some highlights.
Over the past year, PREP has worked hard with new partners to expand and improve on our monitoring program. In the new year the watershed will have high-quality, ortho-rectified imagery of both Great Bay and Hampton Seabrook estuaries. This imagery will help researchers and communities understand more about the health and extent of our eelgrass beds and salt marshes and the presence of nuisance macroalgae. Although there is still much more to accomplish in terms of monitoring, we have made important strides in addressing these specific needs as set forth in the 2013 State of Our Estuaries report.
The energy and commitment we felt as a community coming out of the conference is something that we would love to encourage year after year. We are all a part of our Community for Clean Water and together we have the knowledge, ability and strength to come together for clean water solutions. We invite all of our partners, neighbors, friends and readers to continue fostering the energy and keeping inspired. We at PREP want to inspire and support all the good work in any we can. Please shoot us an email, give us a call or share your ideas on Facebook with us on how we can continue to help accomplish our shared goals to protect and preserve our valuable estuaries.
From all of us at PREP, we hope you have a wonderfully enriching and enjoyable holiday season!
 Jill Farrell Community Impact Program Manager
The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) |
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Feature Story
The Launch of the New UNH School of Marine Science & Ocean Engineering
In September, the University of New Hampshire launched the new
School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering. This new, first of its kind interdisciplinary school is an integration of the all of the university's various marine-related research, teaching and outreach efforts, including PREP. Formerly named The Marine Program, this new School brings together researchers, resources and skill sets from across the university to collaborate on projects focused on the marine, estuarine and near-shore environments.
Creating an interdisciplinary school is important because the issues facing the marine and estuarine environments are interdisciplinary by their nature. Those challenges cross scales, boundaries and scientific realms. By tapping into the varied skill sets of policy scientists, biologists, physical and natural scientists, biogeochemists, and engineers the knowledge and solutions gained can be far more wide reaching and holistic.
Of particular interest to PREP is the focus the School plans to put on estuaries and the estuarine ecosystem. UNH is lucky to be situated in the living laboratory of the Great Bay Estuary and the Gulf of Maine. In an hour's time a researcher can gather data from the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory in the middle of Great Bay to the Judd Gregg Marine Research Complex on the island of New Castle and then even out to Shoals Marine Lab out on the Isle of Shoals. The size, location and wealth of resources UNH will coordinate promises to give our communities a far greater understanding of the waters around us and will help to provide vital information for successful solutions.
PREP is proud to be a part of this new endeavor at UNH and will continue to be an integral resource for research, monitoring, outreach and education about the Hampton-Seabrook and Great Bay estuaries.
 | | VIDEO: UNH School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering |
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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.
Preparing for Emerging Fisheries: An Overview of Mid-Atlantic Stocks on the Move
By: Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Climate change is affecting marine fish populations in a multitude of ways, including shifts in migration patterns, stock distributions, life histories and ultimately, community structures. While research on climate change and fisheries is ongoing, the exact nature of population shifts and subsequent implications for fish and fishermen in the Gulf of Maine are just recently being explored. This newly released report from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute provides an overview of fish stocks managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission that have shown a northward shift of population center.
Read the full report HERE.
The Northeast Voluntary Turf Fertilizer Initiative
By: NEIWPCC
Over the past few months, New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission has worked with the states and EPA on a comprehensive revision of the guidelines based on stakeholder comments. The result is this interim final report to the environmental agency commissioners, which includes a set of 33 regional guidelines.
Read the Interim Report HERELearn more about the Initiative HERE
Coal-Tar-Based Pavement Sealcoat, PAH's & Environmental Health
Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have identified coal-tar based sealcoat - the black, viscous liquid sprayed or painted on asphalt pavement such as driveways and parking lots - as a major source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution in urban area for a large part of our nation. Several PAH's are suspected human carcinogens and are toxic to fish life.
CLICK HERE to view full brochure about this important issue.
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PREP's Clean Water Champion
Jean Eno - Winnicut River Watershed Coalition
PREP's Clean Water Champion is a monthly feature that
profiles people and partners working to make a difference around our watershed.
This month we were able to track down the ever-busy, always awesome, super volunteer, Jean Eno. Jean helped to found and now is the Director of the Winnicut River Watershed Coalition, she's a wonderful naturalist at the Great Bay Discovery Center, is on the board for the York Center for Wildlife, a trustee for the Great Bay Stewards, a board member for the Weeks Brick House & Gardens, travels all over the state with the UNHCE Speaking for Wildlife program, is highly engaged with the local food scene and volunteers at the Seacoast Food Pantry, plus she's an AWESOME cook! Jean's ethic towards protecting the environment and her willingness to lend her talents, energy and time to volunteering in so many different places makes her a very deserving Clean Water Champion - we're so lucky to have her in our region!
 | | Jean (2nd fr left) doing some investigating of the Winnicut River's Biology as part of the Volunteer Biological Assessment Program |
PREP: How long have you been a champion for clean water?
Jean: I've been physically involved with local charges for the last four+ years, but 2006 was the year I saw a video called 'Shifting Baselines' (in Dave Burdick's freshwater science class at UNH) and read Fred Pearce's 'When the Rivers Run Dry'. The true catalysts of my raised awareness, those two.
PREP: How'd you get started in protecting clean water?
Jean: I started working at the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve's Great Bay Discovery Center in 2007 to satisfy an undergrad requirement. My position included everything from cleaning toilets to designing children's programming to creating educational outreach information, all of which ultimately plugged me right into the very estuary that I lived (and still live) on. Working on the shoreline-oftentimes literally-absolutely made me pay attention. We consider our parcel a sanctuary.
PREP: What's your favorite thing to do with or on water?
Jean: You know, just knowing that there is life teeming within it, life that leads to more life...sometimes it's just about watching from a distance. Up close, VBAP work with Sally Soule was a blast, but I do immensely enjoy kayaking. With binoculars.
PREP:What's been your proudest moment as a clean water champion?
Jean: When a very engaged High School science teacher from a nearby town wrote and asked if I could include some at-risk students on a round of water testing a couple of summers ago, I was all over it. I put all nine students (and teachers!) hands-on and they learned about water quality sampling protocols, meter operation, and even quality assurance/quality control. They of course learned about water quality parameters, how to differentiate select native aquatic plants from non-natives, and how to identify all kinds of wildlife (they were particularly enamored with a green frog's "eeek!"). Their capstone project later that summer included an Open House informational fair at their school, organized and manned entirely by them, and, through the help of their teacher, a very cool video compilation of their summer-long experiences. Their presentation was awesome...and very heartfelt. There was barely a dry eye in the room full of teachers, parents, their principal, and me.
PREP: What's one simple thing you would tell somebody to do to protect the places around the Seacoast they love?
Jean: Ha! Ha!, don't just be an observer! Be a voice. Forget ego, forget pride...don't be afraid to ask that proverbial 'dumb question'.
Connect with the Winnicut River Watershed Coalition HERE.
And on December 16th from 6:30-7:30pm at the Weeks Public Library in Greenland join Jean, the WRWC & the Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper for the Winter Conservation Accomplishments & Challenges Series: Ensuring the Health of Great Bay. For more info CLICK HERE.
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 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 December. If you have, or know of an event that you would like us to feature in an upcoming issue of Downstream, please contact us!
York Pond/Rocky Hills Hike with GWRLT
11:00am - 2:00pm
Old Punkintown Rd., South Berwick, ME
Join Great Works Regional Land Trust board member Jack Kareckas to do some winter botanizing and get more of a view without leaves on the trees. Bring a snack and explore the woods!
Meet in the upper parking area behind Brixham Danceworks off Rte. 236.
Email or call 207-251-9015 to reserve a spot.
CLICK HERE for more info.
Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation Holiday Sale & Open House
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Gov. John Langdon House, 143 Pleasant St., Portsmouth, NH
Stop by and join the BOS for holiday shopping and cheer.
Winter Farmer's Market
10:00am - 2:00pm
Wentworth Greenhouses, Rollinsford, NH
Join Seacoast Eat Local for their 7th annual winter farmers market season. Eat local and support our neighborhood farmers all year long.
For more info, directions and details on the deliciousness
Climate Change Decision Role Play Event
11:00am-1:30pm
Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center, 89 Depot Rd., Greenland, NH
Join the GBNERR, MIT's Science Impact Collaborative, the Consensus Building Institute and the City of Dover to test an innovative way to help coastal communities understand and prepare for the potential impacts of climate change. The project partners invite all interested citizens, town leaders and decision makers to join them for a structured role-play simulation and a follow-up discussion about climate-related risks and ways to increase town's resilience. Lunch will be provided.
There is NO COST to attend but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Questions - visit the project website HERE or contact Steve Miller at GBNERR 603.294.0146
Interactive NH Citizen Input Workshop on Energy Projects in New Hampshire
Newington Town Hall, Newington, NH
Weigh in on how the state could improve the State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Process for the future. HAVE YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!
Space is limited to 150-200 people and you must pre-register
Winter Farmers Market
Exeter High School
Join Seacoast Eat Local for their 7th annual winter farmers market season. Eat local and support our neighborhood farmers all year long.
For more info, directions and details on the deliciousness
Monday, December 16th
Discussion Group: Ensuring the Health of Great Bay
6:30pm-7:30pm
Weeks Public Library, Greenland, NH
All Are Welcome!
January 17th, 22nd, & 29th, February 1st & 12th
Community Training in Ecological Design
Boscowan, NH & Concord, NH
Hosted by UNH Cooperative Extension, Planning boards, energy committees, conservation commissions, agricultural commissions, landscape architects, town engineers, road agents & town maintenance crews all are encouraged to take part in this solution-based training on how to design infrastructure, landscaping and hardscaping to meet both human and ecological needs. Learn about permaculture through classroom training, field trips, case studies and more.
Save the Dates & Upcoming Conferences
March 21st, 2014
NH Water and Watersheds Conference
9:00am-4:00pm
Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH
The NH Water and Watersheds Conference is designed to meet the information and networking needs of a broad audience. Participants include scientists; educators; consultants; students; lake, river and watershed groups; environmental organizations; volunteer monitors; municipal board and staff members; elected officials; planners and policy makers.
25th Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference
Newport Harbor Hotel, Newport, Rhode Island
The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) and the Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management will host this valuable conference, it is the premier forum in the Northeast for sharing information and improving communication on NPS issues and projects. The conference brings together all those in New England and New York State involved in NPS management, including participants from state, federal, and municipal governments, the private sector, academia, and watershed organizations. This year's conference will be the 25th annual iteration of the event and will highlight some unique retrospective content about NPS management.
May 19-20th, 2014
LOCAL SOLUTIONS: Northeast Climate Change Preparedness Conference
Center of New Hampshire, Manchester, NH
The conference will focus on local solutions that communities can employ to prepare for the present and changing climate, including extreme weather events such as Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Sandy.
All public and private stakeholders are invited to join us at the Northeast Climate Change Preparedness Conference to learn how to better prepare and adapt to current and future climate change impacts and ensure the success and resilience of our communities.
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