Fact Sheet/Spring 2005
NATIONAL
ESTUARY
PROGRAM
1 987 by amendments to the
Clean Water Act to identify,
restore, and protect nationally
the United Stc
oaches to environmer
protection, the NEP targets a
broad range of issues and en-
gages local communities in
the process. The program fo-
cuses not just on improving
water quality in an
estuary, but on maintaining
the integrity of the whole sys-
tem — its chemical, physical,
well as its economic, recre-
Honal, and aesthetic values.
> EPA Contact
Mark Kern
(617)918-1589
kern.mark@epa.gov
United States
Environmental Protection
i Agency New England
Customer Call Center
888-372-7341
www.epa.gov/region1
Great Bay and the Seacoast
What Makes Great Bay and the Seacoast
Special?
Hhe Great Bay is a relatively pristine region with a
diversity of habitats that are important for water-
fowl, migratory birds, and rare species such as
bald eagles.
>• Shellfish, eelgrass, salt marsh and other marine
plants and organisms can be found in the area's
harbors and bays.
Hhere are a variety of rare species and communities
such as Atlantic White Cedar swamps.
Hhe area contains groundwater wells in towns
which have few alternate sources of drinking water.
Why Does Great Bay Need Special
Attention?
> Storm water runoff needs to be reduced in order to
improve water quality.
*• Habitat areas need protection, especially along the
estuary and streams, for water quality and wildlife
improvement.
What are the Long Term Goals?
^-Clean up water quality to open more shellfish beds.
*• Preserve open space in Great Bay watershed area
and help directdevelopmentto more suitable areas.
^-Increase the acreage and value of salt marshes,
wetlands and other estuarine habitats.
Progress/Goals for the Future
What Partnership Progress has Been Made?
K)ver 500 acres of shellfish beds were reopened
from 2000-2004.
KOver 6,000 acres of waterfront habitat were pro-
tected along Great Bay by outright ownership
and/or conservation easements from 1998 -
2004.
K)ver 500 acres of salt marsh and eelgrass have
been restored from 1998 - 2004.
Hhe final NEP Comprehensive Conservation Man-
agement Plan was completed in 2000.
K)ver 40 action items have been completed, in-
cluding stormwater, mapping and elimination,
habitat restoration and community assistance.
What Major Actions are Planned for 2005?
*• Protect an additional 500 acres of habitat.
*• Raise additional money for land protection.
K)pen additional acres of spawning grounds and
shellfish beds.
*• Restore additional acres of salt marsh and
eelgrass.
^-Update Action Plans in the National Estuary Pro-
gram (NEP).
^-Complete study of the best restoration and protec-
tion sites in 19 coastal towns.
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Great Bay and the Seacoast
N
A
Legend
| | Surface Water
Rivers
State Boundary
Town Boundary
Data Sources: Political boundaries from GRANIT, MassGIS. and Maine OGIS
at 1:24,000. Surface water from USGS at 1:100,000.
February 6,2001
New England
NATIONAL
[ESTUARY
(PROGRAM
Who Are The Partners?
EPA New England • NH Department of Environmen-
tal Services • NH Office of State Planning • NHFish
and Game • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • USDA-
Natural Resources Conservation Service • University
of New Hampshire • NHAudubon • Nature Conser-
vancy • Society for the Protection of NH Forests •
Great Bay Estuarine Research Reserve and NOAA •
Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership • Exeter
River Watershed • Lamprey River Watershed •
Rockingham Planning Commission • Stafford Plan-
ning Commission • 20+local towns
*-NH Estuary Program Contact
Jennifer Hunter
152 Court Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603)433-7187
www.state.nh.us/nhep
www.state.nh.us/coastal
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
Customer Call Center 888-372-7341 • www.epa.gov/region1
,"*» ,;
Note: EPA-New England offers businesses and municipalities information and assistance to improve compliance with environmental laws and be better stewards of their
local environment. Please call to learn how EPA can help.
Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paper with a minimum 50% post-consumer fiber using vegetable-based ink EPA JOl-r-l
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