Biological monitoring begins!

With September here and only two water quality sampling days to go, the time is right for sampling aquatic insects in various streams and sections of the Winnicut River.  So far, we have identified four areas where there's potential for sampling.  This site, which is part of some conserved land in Stratham, certainly makes this kind of work all the more worth it!

Standing on a Volkswagon-size boulder, looking south (upstream).  This ~200' section will be perfect for "scrubbing for bugs" (lifting rocks and looking underneath!) as it has many of the conditions that are suitable for them: shallow, flowing current, and lots of rocks, gravel and sand for a riverbed.  "Riffles" are what we look for--water splashing over rocks.

Exeter volunteer David Loch, who has a background in biology and macroinvertebrate sampling (macroinvertebrates are large aquatic organisms), assesses the center of the river's current.

Trail Walking Within the Winnicut River Watershed

NOW'S the time to get out and see spring coming to life at the Weeks Brick House conservation trails. Turkeys are strutting, fox are hunting small prey to feed their kits, the earliest of migratory birds are appearing...and if you look hard, you may even see trout lilies emerging up from the earth underneath the hardwoods!

Click here to view the Weeks Brick House trail map online

STRATHAM hosts wonderful trails at the Stratham Hill Park area, a fun place to take the family, including the family dog (please remember the 'leave no trace' concept and bring dog poop baggies!). On clear, sunny days, you can see the peak of Mount Washington! Dare to climb the fire tower!

Click here to view the Stratham Hill Park trail map online

LASTLY, behind the North Hampton Elementary School on Atlantic Ave., there is a fanstastic network of nature trails that allows users access to many wonderful aspects of the Little River watershed (an adjoining watershed to the Winnicut's): from owl habitat in the uplands where there are gorgeous red pines, to wetland pools, and eventually to an extensive marshland...beautiful stuff.  Mike Caron, an Enrichment Coordinator at the school, has been instrumental in developing the trails and a unique nature program, and has a wonderful vision for implementing learning platforms to accomodate the inquisitive minds that utilize the trail network (in the past the trails were maintained by the North Hampton School students as part of their service learning component).  The public is allowed access to this school property dawn to dusk during non school hours.  There isn't a map, per se, for the trail system, so you'll need to rely on a compass and your smarts:  From behind the school, head to the northwest corner of the fields (diagonally to your left as you stand behind the school, with your back against the building where the swings are).  There you will find the entrance to the trails.  To see a map of North Hampton's conservation lands, including the Little River area that these trails fall within, click here (pdf - large file).

Happy trails!  Don't forget your binoculars, and don't forget to wear your Bean boots - it's mucky out there in some of those parts!

WRWC Kick-off Event A Success!

More than 50 people from local communities, organizations and groups participated in the Winnicut River Watershed Coalition's first outreach event on Saturday, May 15, 2010.

While the wind tried hard to dampen spirits, it was an enjoyable, social afternoon with much networking.  Many thanks to the following exhibitors for participating in this successful first event:

Joshua Cline, NH Rivers Council

Amanda Nelson, Weeks Brick House

Jean Eno, Greenland Conservation Commission

NH DOT Stormwater Pollution Outreach Program

Great Bay Stewards

Cheri Patterson, NH Fish & Game

Rick Mauer & sons, and Barry Gendron, Boy Scout Troop 158

Artist Hal Kirby

Artist Anthony D'Allesandro

Greg Tillman, NH Audubon (riverwalk guide)

NH Coastal Protection Partnership

Eco Movement Consulting

Thanks to the following individuals for their contributions to our raffle, and congratulations to their winners:

Suds N' Soda Sports Outlet: rod & reel, $60 value - Anthony D'Allesandro

Photographer Ann Reid: photograph of "Horseshoe Crabs," $85 value - John Meyer

Artist Hal Kirby: pastel print of "Old Ironsides," $30 value - Gordon Hislop
                          pastel print of "Prescott Park Fountains," $40 value - Bill Bilodeau

Artist Anthony D'Allesandro: pastel print of "Marsh at Sunset," $90 value - Tim Farrell

Big thanks to the following individuals for their help, without which things would have been a lot more hectic:

Paul Eno - parking, and pre/post grunt work

Tim Farrell & Friends - grilling, food delivery

Chip Hussey -  post grunt work

Joshua Cline, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Rivers Council, addresses participants at the Winnicut River Watershed Coalition kick-off event held at the Weeks Brick House in Greenland, NH