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

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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.

Erosion of the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act and other protective conservation measures

The New Hampshire Rivers Council is providing a new and important service for those interested in the legislative aspect of water conservation and protection in our state. If you are interested in being notified of action relative to water conservation, please subscribe to LegislativeAlert by sending an email to LegislativeAlert-join@NHRivers.org.

To support this and other valuable watershed work, please visit New Hampshire Rivers Council's website.

Currently, there are three bills going before the Senate that aim to erode the integrity of important conservation and protection measures:

SB 19 is relative to the definition of prime wetlands;

SB 20 is relative to shoreland protection permits;

SB 21 is relative to the definition of wetlands.

All three are being heard by the NH Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Room 102 at the Legislative Office Building at 10:15 AM on January 13, 2011. View the calendar (page 3 of the pdf) here.

From Michele Tremblay, President of NH Rivers Council:

These bills would dramatically and harmfully transform the regulatory framework and landscape of our waterbodies. Please ACT NOW on these three very important bills. Some of the senate hearing time overlaps with the Oyster River bill hearing in the House (HB 44, designating segments of the Oyster River as a protected river). It is recommended that the local focus of seacoast advocates be on this house hearing. Alternatively, you can drop off your House testimony letters/cards and then go to the Senate Committee hearings at 10:15.

What can you do now? Call or write your Senator and urge him/her to to vote against these three bills. This is especially effective if your Senator is on this committee. If you cannot be there, please take a moment to write a letter to or call your Senator.

Tools for action and what you need to know:

SB 19 would reduce prime wetlands to areas that are 5 or more acres.
SB 20 would remove the shoreland permit requirement when an applicant receives an alternation of terrain permit. As you are aware, these two programs are complementary and NOT redundant.
SB 21 would remove from wetland jurisdiction all man-made wetlands unless they are part of compensatory mitigation.

Committee membership

Who's my Legislator? (search by city/town)

It's important to close the circle. Please let us know when you have called your Representative or email/fax us your letter so that we can keep track of support when testifying at hearings. There is no assurance that the leadership and the committee membership will be notified of your support. We will make sure that ALL committee members know that you support this bill.

Invasive Species Talk at Portsmouth Public Library

On Wednesday, November 17th, the Advocates for the North Mill Pond will host a presentation given by Douglas Cygan, Invasive Species Coordinator for the N.H. Dept. of Agriculture. His focus will be invasive upland plant species.

Mr. Cygan will bring us information about the N.H. rules and regulations regarding these plants, help us learn how to identify some of N.H.'s worst invaders and how best to protect our property from the spread of these unwelcome invaders. A colorful guide to these invasive plants species will be available to all attendees.

Refreshments served at 6:45pm. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in the Hilton Garden Room of the Portsmouth Public Library. Please direct questions to:

Steve Miller
Coastal Training Program Coordinator
Great Bay NERR
89 Depot Road
Greenland, NH 03840
(603) 778-0015 ext 305

From Steve:

"Invasive species control is a growing problem. Invasive species reduce biological diversity, diminish the ability of our habitats to sustain wildlife, replace valuable native species, and weaken other ecological functions that benefit us all.

[Cygan's presentation provides] an opportunity to discuss the issue with other municipal board members as well as get updated on current efforts to control invasive species. Please pass this notice to others who may have interest."

How Does Your Lawn Grow?

Now airing on Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN), an award-winning documentary, 'A Chemical Reaction', takes an in-depth look at the lawn chemical industry, providing a compelling basis for why every lawn should be free from pesticides.

Imagine if we could achieve "pesticide-free" neighborhoods!?

Public Meeting Presentation Sept. 2010

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


WRWC_Public_Sept2010.ppt

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.

Tri-town Public Meetings Planned

All dates and times are listed in the green bars.

Click on the picture to enlarge it for better viewing