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CHESTER'S
ENVIRONMENTAL
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"Our economy and our environment are inextricably linked. This innovative
environmental project involving state, federal and local organizations will make
Manchester a more attractive place to work, live and do business."—Mayor Baines
A look at environmental challenges within the city. It's your city. Be part of the solution.
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INTRODUCTION
The City of Manchester, New Hampshire is working with EPA New England and the
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) to look at
environmental challenges within the city.
As part of an innovative agreement reached in March 1999 to reduce sewer over-
flows into the Merrimack and Piscataquoq Rivers, the city will undertake
in projects to eliminate the majority of the sewer overflows and the
resulting discharge of 124 million gallons of untreated sewage. This agreement
enables the city to stagger a program to reduce the remaining overflows, thus
reducing the initial capital costs for the city. In exchange, the city has agreed to
spend $5.6 million for six projects that are part of a Supplemental Environmental
Projects Program (SEPP). These are projects that have far reaching environmental
benefits to Manchester residents.
( PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: CLEANER RIVERS THROUGH REDUCED SEWER OVERFLOWS
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Recent construction on streets near the Piscataquoq River will let new sewer
pipes be installed as part of the overall plan to reduce sewer overflows. Like
many older cities, Manchester's sewer and storm drain systems are connected.
When it rains, the system floods and raw sewage discharges into local rivers.
Manchester has 26 combined sewer overflows (CSO's) that need to be
eliminated. During the initial work, a monitoring program will ensure more
informed decisions on how to best reduce remaining overflows. Decisions on
how best to address remaining sewer overflows necessary to comply with the
federal Clean Water Act will be made in 2009.
WHATISACSO?
In a combined sewer system both
rainwater runoff and sanitary waste
which flows from homes and
businesses, are transported in one
pipe, to the sewage treatment
plant. During heavy rainfalls or
sudden snowmelt, the flow in the
sewer system may exceed the
capacity of either the pipe or the
treatment facility. As a result, part
of the combined wastewater flow
may be diverted directly into the
Merrimack or Piscataquog Rivers.
These are known as combined
sewer overflows or CSO's.
Currently there 26 of these in
Manchester. At the end of the initial
phase, 14 CSOs will be eliminated.
The goal is ultimately to eliminate
all CSOs.
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PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES
o Each time it rains, raw sewage from
Manchester goes directly into the
Merrimack and Piscatcaug Rivers creating
a public health and ecological risk
o River banks along the Merrimack River
are eroding at an accelerated rate,further
polluting the river
o Manchester has the highest rate of lead
poisoning and asthma in the state
° Storm water discharges pollutants into
Manchester's seven ponds
• Development threatens open space and
natural habitat in the city
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SWEEP THE STREET IN
FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE.
VISIONS
People are swimming in Nutts Pond
Bald Eagles are flying up and down the river
The Merrimack River is a focal point for the city,
the "River Walk" is thriving
Streambanks are stable and provide good habitat
o Fewer children have asthma and are poisoned by lead
o Students are proud of their stenciling of the
storm drain and cleaning the river banks
Urban ponds are restored and citizens are actively
involved in their stewardship and care
People are boating and fishing in the Merrimack & Piscataquoq Rivers
The globally-rare Manchester Atlantic White Cedar Swamp at Hackett Hill
is permanently protected
o Citizens taking water samples and checking rain gauges to help manage the river
LEAVE TREES & PLANTS ALONG
THE RIVER. IT PREVENTS EROSION.
CAPTURE YOUR ROOF WATER
AND OSE IT FOR WATERING.
TAX BENEFITS
-)
Sewer bills didn't go up as much as they could have
Property values are protected by making the city more livable and attractive
There are more places to recreate: nature trails, urban gardens, river access
Fewer hospital visits are made for treating asthma
Increased tax base income from high quality development
More citizen involvement means a cleaner city for less money
More recycling and yard waste program participation saves natural
resources and tax dollars
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SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS PROGRAM (SEPP):
$5.6 MILLION TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENT
1. Control of Polluted Runoff and Stomwater: Budget $1 Million
The city will invest money to reduce the polluted runoff that goes into the
Merrimack River and its tributaries by implementing a stormwater management
plan. This includes: removal of illicit sewer connections, street sweeping/catch
basin cleaning, cleanup programs along the banks of the Piscataquog and other
rivers, and storm drain stenciling to encourage the public not to discharge pollut-
ants down storm drains. These polluted runoff or "nonpoint source" programs will
complement traditional CSO controls to further improve water quality in the
Merrimack River.
2. Streambank Stablization and Erosion Control: Budget $1 Million
Streambanks in Manchester are eroding at an accelerated rate in some areas. This
can cause water quality problems, loss of habitat and potential damage to roads
and bridges. Stabilizing or protecting the banks with vegetation can help reduce
water pollution, reduce damage, and provide habitat. As part of the SEPP agree-
ment the city will spend $1 million to inventory the streambanks, and do stabiliza-
tion and erosion control projects. To assist with this project the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, through the Hillsborough
County Conservation District has established an AmeriCorps position to work with
local volunteers to do the streambank inventory, education and outreach, and work
with community officials to restore sections of the river.
For information:
Katie Hughes at the Hillsborough County Conservation District (603) 673-2409
3. Urban Pond Restoration Project: Budget SI Million
The ponds in Manchester present numerous opportunities for the city; they are
hidden treasures. Public recreational uses can include fishing, swimming, canoe-
ing, hiking, bird watching and other related activities. Ponds also provide habitat
for a diverse population of species, and provide many educational opportunities for
young and old alike. The quality and health of a pond dramatically affect its poten-
tial use. As part of the SEPP agreement the city will spend up to $1 million dollars
to work toward restoration of seven ponds in Manchester. The urban pond restora-
tion project will be overseen by the Manchester Conservation Commission, which
has hired an Urban Pond Coordinator. The urban ponds to be restored include:
Crystal Lake; Doors Pond; Maxwell Pond; McQuesten Pond; Nutt Pond; Pine Island
Pond; and Stevens Pond. Some of the ponds already have an active group of
citizens working on their behalf. These citizen groups include the Crystal Lake Pres-
ervation Association and the Dorrs Pond Preservation Society. A goal of this project is
to have an active citizen group for each pond. Come help out! We need you.
For more information:
Art Grindle, Urban Pond Coordinator (603) 624-6450
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Combined Sewer
Overflow (CSO)
Middle Schools
Hackett Hill preserve
and development area
(approximate boundary)
surface water
Did you know....
•There are 7 ponds
within the city?
•Salmon fry are stocked
in Black Brook upstream
of Maxwell Pond by
New Hampshire Fish
and Game?
• Brook Trout have been
spotted in McQuesten
Brook?
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'
Hackett H>!
preserve ar
development /
area
Auburn
Goffstown
Maxwell1
Pond
Water Drainage
Stenciling Area
Stevens
Middle School
Manchester
Manchester Waste Wate
• vitment Plant
Massabesic t •>
Crysu
Londonderry
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The Healthy Manchester
Coordinating Council
A community-wide group under the
United Way was established to coordi-
nate city-wide health projects. The U.S.
EPA sponsored Child Health Champion
(CMC) project committee is a subgroup
of this Council.
•Over 1/3 of NH's lead poisoning cases
occur in Manchester.
•In 1997, there were 1,583 hospital
discharges with asthma diagnoses,
more than 2/3 of which were in the two
lowest-income zip codes.
In March of 1998 a survey was
conducted by The Manchester Health
Department in the center city neighbor-
hood of Manchester.
225 households responded:
• 19.9% of respondents had been
diagnosed with asthma.
•21.8% had someone in the household
(other than respondent) diagnosed with
asthma.
•16% of families with children under
six had been told that their child or
children had high amounts of
lead in their bfood.
'Use less fertilizer on your lawn.
'Dispose of chemicals and trash
properly. Participate in semi-annual
household hazardous waste
collections (May/October).
1 Practice water conservation.
•Compost your waste.
•Maintain your septic system.
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4. Preserving Rare Wetlands: Budget $2 Million
The city will invest $2 million to preserve about 600 acres of globally-rare wet-
lands in the Hackett Hill area of northwest Manchester. This area has been de-
scribed by the NH Nature Conservancy as "one of the most valuable unprotected
ecosystems in New Hampshire." The initiative will focus primarily on preserving
large tracts in the Manchester Cedar Swamp, an ecologically rich and globally-
rare collection of Atlantic White Cedar, Black Gum and Giant Rhododendron
swamps. Standing in the Cedar Swamp you would not know you are in Manches-
ter, it is another world—right here in the city. The city will turn the preserve over to
the Nature Conservancy which will implement a stewardship plan and provide
education and trails for the preserve. This site is not just about preserving nature,
it is also providing jobs and revenue. A master plan is being developed that would
allow part of the site to generate revenue for the city through the development of
a high-end office park. There are strict design standards and management prac-
tices to protect the preserve, which is the highest priority. However, this site may
also be recognized nationally as an exemplary integration of the "corporate" world
with the natural world.
5. Improving Children's Health: Budget $500,000
Manchester has the highest rate of childhood lead poisoning and asthma in the
state. The city will invest $500,000 in programs to prevent childhood lead poison-
ing and asthma in Manchester. The initiative will include screening of children for
lead poisoning, lead hazard reduction training and education, an asthma reduc-
tion program, and $50,000 a year, for five years, to go toward local projects. The
money will complement $135,000 the EPA recently awarded to Manchester under
the EPA Children's Health Champion Initiative. The goal of the Child Health Cham-
pion Projects is to improve the health of low-income and minority children by
providing the information and training needed to reduce home-based environmen-
tal health hazards that cause lead poisoning and trigger asthma. The city has
hired a Toxicologist to head up these efforts.
For more information:
Dr. Rosemary Caron (603) 624-6466 x317
6. Environmental Education: Budget $100,000
Students will learn about the environmental issues in the city. A group of eighth
grade teachers is serving on a Teacher Advisory Council to help design this part of
the project. The teachers will work to develop and implement an environmental
education program for eighth grade students focusing on watershed projects
within the city and along the Merrimack River. Students will learn about and
participate in many of the CSO project components described above. Students
will do storm drain stenciling and maybe even "adopt" one of the urban ponds as
a project. This education program will be a cooperative effort between the City,
EPA, DES, New Hampshire Audubon at Amoskeg Fishway and the Merrimack
River Watershed Council.
For more information:
Kathleen Neville, Amoskeag Fishway (603) 634-3314 or
Beth Brazil, Merrimack River Watershed Council (978) 681-9777
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New England • September 2000 • #EPA-901-F-00-003
PARTNERS
EPA New England'NH Department of Environmental Services-New Hampshire
Audubon»US Fish and Wildlife Service'Natural Resources Conservation Service'City of
Manchester»The NH Nature Conservancy»Army Corps of Engineers'Manchester
Department of Highways, Environmental Protection Division»NewHampshire
Cooperative Extension* The Way Home: Healthy Home Program "Manchester Health
Department»The Salvation Army»Alliance for the Progress of Hispanic Americans
(ALPHA) »The American Lung Association of New Hampshire»Merrimack River
Watershed Council»Hillsborough County Conservation District "Manchester Middle
Schools 'Camp Dresser and McKee»St. Anselm's College
WE NEED YOUR HELP
There is a lot happening as part of the initiative, and there are
many opportunities for new ideas to be implemented and for
partnerships to form. We are seeking involvement from the
business community in Manchester as well as citizens. We
have set up an email address as well as a phone line you can
call with questions or ideas. Be in touch! It's your city.
Email: enviromanch@mail.com
Address: Manchester Environmental Challenge
c/o Tom Seigle
Environmental Protection Division
300 Winston Street
Manchester, NH03013
For additional information contact:
Vic Hyman, Manchester Recycling Coordinator (603) 665-6812
Eric Williams, NH Dept. of Environmental Services (603) 271-2358
Irish Garrigan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (617) 918-1583
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CURBSIDE RECYCLE
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