Estuaries Partnership's 2010 Conservation Management Plan

Yesterday's release of PREP's 2010 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, held at New Castle's scenic Great Island Common, saw more than 50 members and representatives from area conservation organizations and municipalities.  U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter personally spoke in support of what she called an "ambitious" plan, while representatives from other NH and Maine congressional delegates read letters supporting the plan.

With more than 80 action plans developed over an 18-month period through a series of workshops that more than 150 researchers, natural resource managers and watershed citizens attended, the plan is just that- ambitious.  But more than 200 organizations will be involved in its implementation over a 10-year period.

U.S. Representative Carol Shea-Porter addresses the audience September 20, 2010 in New Castle during the release of the 2010 Piscataqua Region Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP)

 With more and more news on Great Bay's health making headlines, water quality issues in areas "upstream" are also getting attention.
Below, an attending reporter at yesterday's event reads up on impaired water issues within the Winnicut River watershed, one of five primary tributaries to Great Bay.

A participant checks out the Winnicut River Watershed Coalition's display

The turnout of participants reflected the many agencies and organizations involved in the conservation, protection and management of Great Bay: researchers from the University of New Hampshire; staff from NH Fish and Game, including their Director, Glen Normandeau; staff from the Department of Environmental Services, including Assistant Commissioner Michael Walls; EPA Regional Director, District 1, Lynne Hamjian; all of the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) staff, including newly appointed director Rachel Rouillard, Coastal Scientist Phil Trowbridge, Conservation Program Manager Derek Sowers, and Program Manager Dave Kellam; members from County Planning Commissions; staff and members from Trout Unlimited; participants from watershed organizations as far away as Ogunquit, ME.

Theresa Walker, an environmental planner with Rockingham County Planning Commission and PREP's management committee chairwoman, delivers the opening for yesterday's release of the CCMP.  Lynne Hamjian, Director, District 1, EPA, looks on.

Reporters, photographers and PREP staff look on as NH DES Assistant Commissioner Michael Walls delivers his speech in support of the PREP's effort

To learn more about the Estuaries Partnership and the 136-page CCMP, click here.  A couple of great local articles can read here (Seacoast Online) and here (Foster's).