Happy Spring & Happy Arbor Day! Mark Your Calendar!

March: In like a lion (or was it really a lamb?), out like a...wobbly woodcock!

Greetings!  In our first post since wrapping up last year's sampling effort, we're pleased to provide this fantastic shot of an American woodcock that we stumbled upon while collecting data at a Greenland stormwater-outfall site last week.  Have you ever been timberdoodling and heard their unique "peent" call on the ground, or the distinct wing whistling as they fly in a spiral overhead?  As for the wobbling, they are most peculiar in the way that they rock back and forth as they step along in the underbrush.  Their wobbling is sometimes thought to be a way for uprooting worms (their primary source of food), but knowing how close we were to this little creature, it's suspected that they do so as a camouflage strategy--one that is quite amusing!  It resembled leaf litter in the wind!

As for WRWC volunteers, we, too, are a bit wobbly and needing to stretch our wings outdoors.  A perfect opportunity came along when Dr. Steve Jones from the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory approached the WRWC for help on a study to assess citizen involvement in local stormwater monitoring.  Steve is the project coordinator for the Citizen Research Volunteers program, which is based out of the Lab.  For more information, or to volunteer a couple hours once a week for the next 4-6 rounds, contact us!  Happy Spring!

NH Homeowner's Guide to Stormwater Management DIY Solutions

The WRWC participated in a watershed managers roundtable last October hosted by NHDES' Watershed Assistance Section, and has since stayed informed on future restoration grant opportunities and other management tools through a blog for watershed managers (the WRWC is not a "manager," but rather a source for creating a local advisory committee which will act as a steward for Winnicut River watershed (the entire area of land that drains to the Winnicut River)).

The forum and blog were created for the purpose of providing additional resources and opportunities to network for those involved with NHDES' Watershed Assistance and Restoration Grants.

A recent post was deemed worthy of posting on WRWC's blog:

"Two new stormwater management tools have been created for homeowners and local building officials to help identify cost effective methods to offset potential impacts to water resources.

The “New Hampshire Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Management Do-It-Yourself Stormwater Solutions for Your Home” was developed to help homeowners better manage stormwater on their properties. It can also be used by communities as an outreach tool to encourage better stormwater management on private properties.  [See page 54 of this pdf for using the model below.]

DES has also created a modeling tool for homeowners to estimate their nutrient footprint called “The New Hampshire Residential Loading Model.”  [This is an Excel file, and you'll be best served if you refer to instructions on page 54 of the pdf document above!]

This model is based on the Center for Watershed Protection’s Runoff Reduction Method. It is designed for property owners to estimate the loading of nutrients, specifically phosphorus and nitrogen, running off of their properties."

Interesting Stormwater Workshop

Thermal Impacts of Stormwater BMPs,

Thermal Regimes of Northeast Streams,

and their Nexus

Thursday, February 17^th, 2011 1230-330PM

Location: Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center, 89 Depot Road, Greenland, NH

Presented by

UNH Stormwater Center, Environmental Research Group, and NH Coastal Training Program

_____________________________________________________________________________________

What: How does stormwater runoff impact stream temperature?

This workshop will present research results examining thermal characteristics as they relate to surface waters and runoff in the built and natural environment, an important issue facing the Northeast. As a watershed is developed, and impervious surface area increases, stormwater runoff can be a significant, or even the primary source of water to a surface water body. Small streams in New England are highly sensitive to changes in temperature. Increased temperature damages cold water fisheries, and altered temperature regimes interfere with spawning and migration patterns. Drs. Roseen, Ballestero and Watts are characterizing the thermal signature of stormwater runoff. Dr. Jacobs has explored the thermal regimes of streams throughout NH and MA. Recently, these teams have begun to combine their findings to determine the impact of specific stormwater management strategies on a range of stream types. This workshop will present the results of these ongoing research programs.

Workshop Partners: Robert Roseen, Jennifer Jacobs, Alison Watts, Tom Ballestero, Jamie Houle, Steve Miller (CTP Partner), Ralph Abele (EPA)

Agenda:

1. Introduction - Ralph Abele (EPA) (15 min)

2. Thermal Regimes of Northeast Streams – Jennifer Jacobs (ERG) (25 min)

3. Thermal Impacts of Stormwater BMPs – Robert Roseen (UNHSC) (25 min)

4. Persistence Characteristics of Stormwater BMPs – Tom Ballestero (UNHSC) (25 min)

5. Developing Models for Stormwater Thermal Impacts on Stream Temperature Regimes---Alison Watts (UNHSC) (25 min)

6. Next Steps to Quantifying and Mitigating Stormwater impacts on Streams (10 min)

7. Closing & Sponsor acknowledgements (5 min)

Registration: For more information goto http://www.unh.edu/unhsc/thermal.

To register online goto http://www.erg.unh.edu/stormwater/Onlinereg/register.asp

Or contact Maddy Wasiewski at 603-862-2206. There is no cost to this workshop.

Logistics: Parking is available on site. The workshop is located 89 Depot Road, Greenland, NH 03840.

Public Meeting Presentation Sept. 2010

Click on the 'Full Screen' option for best viewing. 


WRWC_Public_Sept2010.ppt

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