Winnicut Coalition to Conduct Water Quality Monitoring

In addition to the critical grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to form the Winnicut River Watershed Coalition, and a generous grant from the Fuller Foundation to assist work in the towns within the Winnicut River watershed, the WRWC has just received a substantial grant from the New Hampshire Coastal Program to conduct some great work. Our press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2011

Contact: Jean Eno, Winnicut Project Director, New Hampshire Rivers Council, at 603-431-7009

Local Coalition Receives Funding for Water Quality Testing

North Hampton, Stratham, Greenland Communities to Benefit

Greenland, NH — The Winnicut River Watershed Coalition, an initiative of the New Hampshire Rivers Council, has received a two-year grant from the New Hampshire Coastal Program at the Department of Environmental Services to conduct water quality and biological monitoring on the Winnicut River and its tributaries in the towns of North Hampton, Stratham, and Greenland, NH, beginning in June, 2011.

Several sections of the Winnicut River are affected by one or more pollutants that impact swimming, fishing and boating, as well as, aquatic wildlife habitat. At as many as twelve sites, testing will be conducted for nitrogen, harmful bacteria, and water quality parameters including dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and pH (acidity). The Winnicut River is the only main tributary unimpeded by dams
that flows directly to Great Bay.

“With a larger snapshot of the river’s condition throughout the watershed—the area of land that drains to the Winnicut—we hope to gain a greater understanding of the local impacts of stormwater runoff, which in turn will allow us to provide even greater water quality education and outreach to our citizens,” said Jean Eno, Winnicut Project Director.

“Ultimately, people and wildlife need and benefit from the Winnicut and Great Bay being clean and healthy,” said Michele L. Tremblay, President, New Hampshire Rivers Council. “Our state’s economy and the health of its people depend on it, and involving citizens in these initiatives is cost effective and creates long lasting results.”

Those interested in volunteering should contact Jean Eno at jeno@nhrivers.org. Further information can be found online at www.nhrivers.org.

Grant funding was provided by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act in conjunction with the N.H. Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program.