Nonpoint Source Management 2011 Annual Report

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

April 2012

R-WD-12-7

Nonpoint Source Management 2011 Annual Report

PreparedbyWatershedManagementBureau

NewHampshireDepartmentofEnvironmentalServices19HazenDrive

Concord,NH03302-0095

www.des.nh.gov

ThomasS.BurackCommissioner

HarryT.Stewart,P.E.Director,WaterDivision

April2012

Front Cover:Students from School Street School in Rochester pose in front of an excavator as part of a water qual-ity awareness day to learn more about how stormwater improvements at their school will help to restore Willow Brook. Photo by Lorie Chase, Cocheco River Watershed Coalition.

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Dedication

In memory of our friend and colleague Jody Connor,Director, Limnology Center at the New HampshireDepartmentofEnvironmentalServices.

Jodywaswellknownandhighlyrespectedasalimnologist,educator, watershed manager, innovator and motivator.His work and contributions are far reaching, and extendfrom the surface waters of New Hampshire, throughoutNorth America and across the globe. Jody’s work withlakesandwatershedsalongwithhiscommitmenttotheirprotectionandrestorationmadehimoneofthemostrespectedlimnologistsinthefieldbyhispeersandthethousandsofpeopleheencountered,eventhoughthemanhimselfwashumble.

JodydedicatedhislifeandhiscareertoprotectandrestorethebeautifulnaturalresourcesthatNewHampshireissofortunatetohave.Hewilllongberememberedbymanyasatruementorandfriend.Countless careers were launched and thousands of volunteers were mobilized to protect naturalresourcesthankstothevision,guidance,mentoring,andunselfishdisseminationofknowledgeandexperiencethatJodyembodied.Itiswithourheartfeltthanks,admirationandinfiniterespect,thatwededicatethe2011NPSAnnualReporttothememoryofJodyConnor.

Jody’s Dock on Lake Winnisquam. Photo by Jen Drociak, DES.

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ContentsDedication..................................................................................................................................................................................v

Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................. 1

Stormwater Initiatives.......................................................................................................................................................... 2NewDo-It-YourselfToolstoManageStormwater.................................................................................................. 2UpdateonStormwaterUtilityFeasibilityStudies.................................................................................................. 3

Education and Outreach..................................................................................................................................................... 3SecondAnnual319Grantees’RoundtableCombinesProjectSiteTours....................................................... 3DippingintoSocialNetworkingwiththeNewHampshireWatershedProtectionandRestorationForumBlog............................................................................................................................................. 4WatershedGrantProceduresMeeting...................................................................................................................... 5GreenSnowProCertificationandReducingRoadSalt........................................................................................ 5PetWasteGetsSomeAirTime....................................................................................................................................... 62011NewHampshireEnvirothonaddressesNitrogenPollutionintheGreatBayEstuary................... 6WatershedGaming............................................................................................................................................................ 7

Highlights and Overview of Completed Projects..................................................................................................... 8Watershed-BasedPlanforHighQualityWatersintheActonWakefieldWatershedRegion-SalmonFallsHeadwatersLakes............................................................................................................................... 8WillandPondDrainageEstablishmentandPublicOutreach...........................................................................10HodgsonBrookRestorationYears3&4...................................................................................................................12CainsBrookandMillCreekRestoration...................................................................................................................14CainsPondRestoration..................................................................................................................................................15HancockVillageStormwaterManagementandWaterQualityImprovement..........................................17LakeWinnipesaukeeWatershedManagementPlan:Meredith,Paugus,andSaundersBays...............18Cobbett’sPondWatershedRestorationPlan.........................................................................................................20LakeHoraceMarshRestoration..................................................................................................................................21WarrenBrookRestorationPlanning..........................................................................................................................22

Looking Ahead......................................................................................................................................................................23

AppendicesA.DESSection319WatershedAssistanceGrantsforHighQualityWatersAwardedinFFY2011......24B.DESSection319WatershedRestorationGrantsforImpairedWatersAwardedinFFY2011............24C.DistributionofSection319GrantDollarsAwardedinFFY2011byWatershed...................................25D.DistributionofSection319GrantDollarsAwardedinFFY2011byNPSCategory............................25E.DESSection319BaseProjectsCompletedinFFY2011.................................................................................26F.DESSection319RestorationProjectsCompletedinFFY2011...................................................................26G.2011EstimatedPollutantLoadReductionsAchieved...................................................................................27

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IntroductionItwouldbefairtocharacterize2011asthefirstyearofthedeclineofthefederal319program.WhileCongressappropriatedlevelfunding,EPAtooktheinitiativetoreducethe319programbudgetby12percentbyre-allocatingthefundingtootherprogramsthroughamaneuvercalleda“spendingplan.”Inatypicalyear,spendingplansmustbeapprovedbyCongress,butin2011CongressdelegatedtheauthoritytoEPA,who,withoutexplanation,madethecut.

ForFY2012,the319budgetwascutanadditional6percent.

ThefederalOfficeofManagementandBudget,whichadvisestheExecutiveBranchonbudgetmatters,hadthe319programinitscrosshairs,recommendinga50percentcutfor2011.EPAarguedagainstsuchalargecut,recommendingthattheystudytheeffectivenessoftheprogramandproposeprogrammaticchanges,includinganincentives-based,orcompetitive,systemformakingappropriationstostates.

EPAreleaseditsstudyofthe319programinOctober2011.Itisaninterestingreadwithexamplesofbestprogrammaticpracticesfrommanystates.Whilethestudycontains162pages,therecommendationsaboutthefutureoftheprogramareincludedinafour-pageAppendix.Thesixrecommendationsofthestudyare:

1. UsethesatisfactoryprogressprovisiontostrengthenandupdatestateNPSmanagementprogramsandimproveaccountability.

2. Implementregionalcompetition/reallocationoffundsthathavenotbeenexpendedbytheendofthegrantperiod,andaportionofnewfiscalyearfunds.

3. Accelerateachievementofenvironmentalresultsandimprovingprogrammanagement.4. IncreaseuseandleveragingofCleanWaterStateRevolvingFundsand/orothersourcesof

statefunding.5. Improvemeasuringsuccessandprogramaccountability.6. ImprovepartnershipandcollaborationwithfederalagenciessuchasU.S.Departmentof

Agriculture,DepartmentofInterior,andotherstomoreeffectivelytackleNPSpollution.

The2011annualreportincludesseveralexamplesofcompletedprojectsthatimplementwatershed-basedplans,clearlyillustratinghowtheNewHampshireDepartmentofEnvironmentalServiceshasusedthe319programtoachieveenvironmentalresultsandmeasuresuccess(recommendations#3and#5inthelistabove).

• OneprojecthighlightisCainsPondinSeabrook,whichwasimpairedforrecreationaluseduetosedimentationandnowmeetswaterqualitystandardsasaresultofa319restorationproject.ThisprojectisincludedinEPA’s319successstorieswebsiteathttp://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/success319/.

• Severalprojectscompletedin2011addressedstormwaterretrofitsinurbansettings,includingHodgsonBrookinPortsmouth,whereneighborhood-scaleBMPssuchastree-boxfiltersweredemonstrated,andCobbett’sPondinWindham,wherehighwayrunoffwasinfiltratedinatightsetting.

• PhysicalandbiologicalrestorationprojectswerecompletedatWarrenBrookinAlsteadandLakeHoraceMarshinWeare.

• Thefirstweb-basedwatershedplanwascompletedforthreebaysofLakeWinnipesaukee,thestate’slargestlake.

Example fact sheet from the New Hampshire Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Management.

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• ThereportalsodescribeseffortstoexplorethefeasibilityofstormwaterutilitiesinDoverandanewtooltoquantifyandaddresspollutantloadingfromresidentialsites.

Inadditiontotheabove,wenowhavemorethan30completedwatershed-basedplanspostedontheDESwebsite.Theseplansrepresentthousandsofhoursofworkbyorganizations,volunteers,andconsultantstowardmeasurablyimprovedwaterqualityandwillserveasthebuildingblocksforonthegroundimplementationprojects.

Stormwater InitiativesNew Do-It-Yourself Tools to Manage Stormwater

Managingstormwatercanbecomplicated.Often,engineersandotherprofessionalsarecalledupontodesignandinstallstormwatertreatmentpractices,aswellascalculatetheirpollutantremovalbenefit.Whileprofessionalstormwatermanagementservicesmaybeonlyasmallpartofthebudgetforlargecommercialormulti-unitresidentialdevelopments,suchservicesaresimplynotaffordableforthemajorityofsmall-scalepropertyowners.

Still,manypeoplewanttolessentheimpactofstormwaterrunofffromtheirproperty.Whethertheywanttoprotectwaterqualityorpreventtheirdrivewayfromwashingout,peoplearelookingforwaystomanagestormwaterwithsimplematerialsandeasytofollowinstructions.Recognizingthisneed,DEShasdevelopedthefollowingnewtools.

The New Hampshire Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Management: Do-It-Yourself Stormwater Solutions for Your Homeprovidesfactsheetsforavarietyofstormwatertreatmentpractices,suchasdrywellsandraingardensthatcanbeeasilyinstalledonprivateproperty.Eachfactsheetincludesamateriallist,illustrationsandstep-by-stepinstructions.Constructingthesepracticescanhelpreducefloodinganderosion,andsubsequentlyprotectnearbystreamsandpondsfromstormwaterpollution.

The New Hampshire Residential Loading Modelisaspreadsheettooltohelpestimatetheamountofstormwaterpollutants,specificallysediment,phosphorus,andnitrogen,thatcomefromagivenproperty.Thistoolcanmodelvariouspropertyscenariosincludingthewaterqualityimpactofbuildinganewgarage,forexample,orthewaterqualitybenefitofconstructingastormwatertreatmentpracticefromthehomeowner’sguide.Thetoolcanalsobeusedtodetermineifapropertymeetslocalwaterqualitygoals,iftheyhavebeendefinedforaparticularwaterbody.

Bothtoolsareavailableathttp://des.nh.gov/orga-nization/divisions/water/stormwater/stormwater-mgmt-homeowners.htm

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Update on Stormwater Utility Feasibility Studies

ThecityofDovercompleteditsstormwaterutilityfeasibilitystudywithfundingfroma2009Section319Grant.ThefundingenabledDovertohireconsultantstoidentifystormwaterprogramneedsandcosts,evaluatethepossibilityofestablishingamunicipalstormwaterutility,andidentifyapreferredapproachtofundingthecity’sstormwaterprogram.Doverspearheadedanefforttogarnerpublicsupportbyappointinganad-hocstormwaterstudycommitteeofstakeholders.Thiscitizencommitteerepresentingvariousgroupsthatwouldbeaffectedbytheoutcomeofthecommittee’srecommendationwasabletoworkcooperativelyand,despiteinitialconcernsandmisgivings,unanimouslyvotedtosupporttheformationofastormwaterutility.

Unfortunately,followingpresentationstothecitycouncilandthepublic,awell-organizedoppositionspokeatapublichearing.ConcernscenteredaroundnotwantingtobethefirststormwaterutilityinNewHampshire,delayinissuingthenewMS4permitthatmanyofthestormwaterprogramcostswerebasedon,andalackoftrustingovernmentingeneral.Followingthenegativeresponses,thecitycouncilfeltthatmuchwaslearnedbythefeasibilityprocessbutthatestablishingautilityatthistimeinDoverwaspremature.

DESthenmetwithDoverandotherstormwaterutilityfeasibilitystudygranteestoidentifylessonslearnedthatcouldbeincorporatedintotheongoingefforts.Itwasrecommended,ifpossible,towaitforthenewMS4permittobeissuedbeforebringingutilityproposalstocitycouncilsforavote.DEShassinceincorporatedadditionalrecommendationsforstormwaterutilityfeasibilitystudiesinNewHampshire,whichcanbefoundathttp://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/stormwater/utilities.htm#feasibility,andwilladdnewinformationasothergrantprojectsarecompleted.

Education and OutreachSecond Annual 319 Grantees’ Roundtable Combines Project Site Tours

TheWatershedAssistanceSectionhostedthe2010WatershedManagersRoundtable(2ndEdition)andProjectSiteToursinOctoberattheDESCoastalOfficeinPortsmouth.

Thiseventcombinedthe319Grantees’Roundtablewithprojectsitetours,conventionallyheldforEPAstaff,sothat319projectmanagerscouldalsoobservepastandongoing319projectsuccesses.Attendeesatthecombinedevent,includedapproximately50past,current,andpotentialfuture319WatershedAssistanceandRestorationgrantees,privateconsultants,andrepresentativesfromseveralEPAProgramsandtheDESWatershedManagementBureau.

Duringtheroundtable,granteesbrainstormedonwaystobuildcapacityandimplementtoolsforwatershedprojectsandidentifiedfourkeyareasofinterest.

Lori Chase, Project Coordinator, Cocheco River Watershed Coalition describing BMPs for School Street School, Rochester.

Tara Schroeder, Green Mountain Conservation Group sharing tips with the representatives from Lake

Wentworth Association.

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1. Enablebestmanagementpracticeimplementationatthelocallevel.2. EstablishpartnershipswithNHDepartmentofTransportationandlocaldepartmentsofpublic

works.3. StreamlinethelocalandstateregulatoryprocessestofacilitaterestorationandBMP

implementation.4. Reducewaterqualityimpactsfromwinterroadmaintenancepractices.

Foreachkeyareaofinterest,participantsdiscussedbarriers,benefits,andrecommendationsforfollow-upaction.Someofthesuggestedactionsincluded:demonstratetoDPWshowimplementinglowimpactdevelopment(LID)cansavetheirtownmoney;streamlinethepermittingprocessforsmallerprojectsthatimprovewaterquality;and,createandpromotefactsheetsforwintermaintenancepracticestoreducesaltuse.

Attendeeswerethenescortedonabustourtovisitthree319projectsitesintheCoastalwatershed.TheHodgsonBrookRestorationProjectinPortsmouthprovidedanexampleofLIDbestmanagementpracticesretrofittedintoexistingdevelopedareasinahighlyurbanizedarea.ThestopatCain’sPondinSeabrookdemonstratedhowthepondwasrestoredforrecreationalusesthroughdredgingandinstallationofasedimenttrapchamberBMP.Finally,avisittotheCochecoRiverprojectatSchoolStreetSchoolinRochesterhighlightedstormwaterBMPsthatwereretrofittedintoexistingdevelopmentincludingaperviousasphaltbasketballcourt,perviousconcretesidewalk,threeraingardens,andaninfiltrationdrywellandtrench.

EvaluationsandresponsesindicatedtheeventwasahugesuccessandathirdeditionoftheroundtablewilloccurinFY2012.

Dipping into Social Networking with the New Hampshire Watershed Protection and Restoration Forum Blog

Tomeet319granteesrequestsforadditionalopportunitiestonetworkwithfellowgranteesandpartners,DEScreatedtheNew Hampshire Watershed Protection and Restoration Forum blogathttp://xml2.des.state.nh.us/blogs/watershed/?page_id=176.Thisblogprovidesadditionalresourcesand

opportunitiestonetworkforthoseinvolvedwithWatershedAssistanceandRestorationGrants.Over175grantprojectmanagersandinterestedpartiesareupdatedonnewpostsonaregularbasisandareprovidedtheopportunitytopostandsharetheirownresourcesandcomments.

Theblogpagesareloadedwithusefulresourcesincludinglinkstowebsitesofpastandcurrentgrantrecipients.Sincegoinglive,over50postshaveincludednotificationaboutworkshops,conferences,webinarsandother319programrelatedinformation.

Green SnowPro logo.

Salt applicators go through a calibration exercise.

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Watershed Grant Procedures Meeting

InJanuary2011,DESheldthefirstWatershedGrantProceduresMeetingforSection319Grantrecipients.Thepurposeofthismeetingwastoprovidetrainingregardingthepaperworkandproceduresrequiredfor319grantadministration.Historically,thisinformationwasprovidedtothegranteesduringascopingmeetingtodiscusstheparticularsoftheirproject.Itwasdeterminedthatthisapproachprovidedtoomuchinformationatonce,andthatitwouldbebesttoseparatediscussionofthescopeofworkfromtrainingongrantprocedures.Theproceduresmeetingincluded:generalgrantinformation;executionofthepaperworkneededforgrantagreementapproval;proceduresduringtheprojectperiodsuchasprocurements,paymentrequests,interimreportsandqualityassurance;andguidanceforclosingouttheproject,suchasfinalreportrequirements.Atleastonerepresentativefromeachgranteeorganizationattendedthemeeting.Inadditiontoreceivingguidanceattendeeslearnedfromeachotherastheysharedtipsthathavebeenbeneficialtothem.ThemajorityofgranteesalsotookadvantageofanopportunitytomeetoneononewithaDESgrantmanagerfollowingthemeeting.ThemeetingwaswellreceivedandDESplanstocontinueofferingthistrainingtofuturegrantrecipients.

Green SnowPro Certification and Reducing Road Salt

ContinuingwitheffortstoimplementmeasurestomeetthechlorideTotalMaximumDailyLoads(TMDL)intheI-93expansionwatersheds,DESpartneredwithUNHTechnologyTransfer(T2)Centertodesignandkick-offthe“GreenSnowPro”Certificationprogram.ThisvoluntaryprogramimprovescommunicationsandincreasestrainingopportunitieswithoneofthelargerchloridecontributorsintheTMDLwatersheds,privateapplicators.ParticipantsintheprogramareaffordedtheopportunitytobecomeaNewHampshire“GreenSnowPro”

certifiedwintermaintenanceprofessionalbyparticipatinginahalfdaycoursefollowedbyanexam.Thetrainingincludes:howsaltworks,anti-icingwithliquids,pre-wetting,spreadercalibration,materialstorageandhousekeeping,andsaltaccounting.Thefirsttwotrainingsessionsin2011,hostedbythetownofDerry,wereatmaximumcapacityandresultedinover100applicatorsearning“GreenSnowPro”certification.Inadditiontothewaterqualitybenefits,“GreenSnowPro”certifiedapplicatorslearnedtechniquestocontinuetomaintainalevelofservicewhileusinglesssalt,whichinturnsavestimeandmoney,increasesprofessionalism,andreducesriskexposure.SaltReductionComplianceforOperatorstrainingwasalsoprovidedforthemunicipalwintermaintenancestaffandincorporatedintothe“GreenSnowPro”program.Oncecertified,businessescanmarkettheircertificationwithtruckdecalsandviathewebsiteathttp://t2.unh.edu/green-snowpro-certification.

Australian Filmmaker, James Boldiston, filming New Hampshire segments for a pet waste documentary at Rye Beach.

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Pet Waste Gets Some Air Time

Thepetwasteprogram,“ScoopthePoop,”receivedlocalandinternationalfamethroughavideo/publicserviceannouncement(PSA)“BeachKarma”andadocumentary“DogPoo–theTruthatLast.”

InFebruarya“ScoopSocial”washeldtokick-offthefirstpetwastePSAhostedontheDESwebsiteathttp://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/coastal/scoop_the_poop.htm.ThisinnovativevideowascreatedbyBlueOceanSocietyasmatchforaSection319WatershedAssistancegrant.ThevideocreativelycombinesalittleAlfredHitchcockwithCharlieChaplintoencouragepeopletopickuptheirpetwastebyhighlightingthatpetwasteleftonourbeachescancauseimpactstowaterqualityandmayevenclosebeaches.

InSeptember,theAustralianfilmmakerJamesBoldiston’sdocumentaryfilm“DogPoo–theTruthatLast”helditsAmericandebutattheNewHampshireFilmFestivalinPortsmouth.Shotineight

countries,thesecretlifeofdogfecesisbroughtoutin“glorious”detail.NewHampshire’sown“ScoopthePoop”petwasteeducationprogramcreatedandimplementedbyDESisfeaturedalongsideHarveyMilk’spooperscoopinglawsinSanFranciscoandpoodetectionintheoutbackofAustralia.Afterresearchingandproducingthisfunnyandinformativefilmforoverayear,BoldistondeclaredNewHampshire’sprogramas“oneofthebestpetwasteoutreachprogramsintheworld.”Themovietrailercanbeseenat:http://www.dogpootruth.com/.

2011 New Hampshire Envirothon addresses Nitrogen Pollution in the Great Bay Estuary

AnnuallyhighschoolstudentsacrossNewHampshireparticipateinthe“Envirothon,”anationalhighschoolenvironmentalsciencecompetitionthatencouragesanunderstandingoftheprinciplesandpracticesofnaturalresourcemanagementandecology.Thethemefor2011was“SaltWaterEstuaries”andDESassistedwithcreatingtheresearchandoralpresentationtopiconnitrogenloadingtotheGreatBayEstuary.ParticipatingteamsweretaskedwithdevelopingabalancedstrategytoreducenitrogenlevelsintheGreatBayEstuarybylimitingnitrogendischargefromwastewatertreatmentfacilitiesandotherpointsources,aswellasaddressingnon-pointsourcesofnitrogenpollution.About160studentsrepresenting12highschoolsfrom41communitiesparticipatedinthecompetition.

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Watershed Gaming

DESoutreachstaffwastrainedbyNorthlandNonpointEducationforMunicipalOfficials(NEMO)representativesfromMinnesotatofacilitateawatershedinteractiveactivity,The Watershed Game.Thiscompetitiveactivityusesaboardgametoincreaseparticipants’knowledgeofwhatawatershedis,howvariouslandusesimpactwaterquality,whatdifferentbestmanagementpracticeswillhelpobtainawaterqualitygoalbyreducingcertainpollutants,andtheneedforcollaborationamonglandusestewardstoreachawaterqualitygoal.

ThegamewasthenpurchasedandpilotedbeforeDESstafftoidentifyappropriateaudiencesandtosolicitfeedbackonthegameprocess.DESstaffalsofacilitatedthegameforlakeassociationmembersattheActionWakefieldWatershedAlliancesHealthyLakeskick-offmeetingandforDPWstaffattheSeacoastStormwaterCoalitionmeeting.Bothgroupswerepositiveabouttheincreaseinawarenessaboutwaterqualitygoals,lowimpactdevelopmentBMPsandthedifferentstakeholdersinvolvedinprotectingorrestoringawaterbody.

TheNewHampshireNaturalResourceOutreachCoalitionwillassistDESinpublicizingandloaningthegametoNewHampshirestakeholders,suchaswatershedorganizations,stateandlocaldecisionmakers,andeducationalinstitutions.DESwillalsorespondtorequestsfortrainingand/orfacilitationassistance.

Municipal officials are assisted by Northland NEMO Representatives in the Watershed Game exercise.

Photo by J. Bilotta, NEMO.

The Watershed Game has options for both lake and river watersheds.

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Highlights and Overview of Completed Projects

Watershed-Based Plan for High Quality Waters in the Acton Wakefield Watershed Region - Salmon Falls Headwaters Lakes

TheSalmonFallsRiverHeadwatersLakesWatershedManagementPlanincludesthefivewatershedsofGreatEastLake,HornPond,LakeIvanhoe,LovellLakeandWilsonLake.Thisareacomprisesapproximately26squaremileswithinActon,MaineandWakefield,NewHampshire.DevelopmentintheActon-Wakefieldregionisconsideredruralwithnearly89percentoflandareaundeveloped.Theremainingdevelopedlandislargelyresidential,primarilyoccurringalongmajorroadwaysandlakeshores.Thelakesandassociatedwetlandsarehometoadiverseecologicalcommunitythatdependsoncleanwater.

ThisgrantwasawardedtotheActonWakefieldWatershedsAlliance(AWWA)todevelopawatershed-basedplanfortheSalmonFallsHeadwaterLakes.ThesepristinewaterbodiesareofsignificantvaluetothecommunitiesofActonandWakefieldandactionisneededtomaintaintheirgoodcondition.

Topromotecommunityengagementintheplanningprocess,AWWAconvenedawatershedsteeringcommitteeofstakeholdersthatincludedtownofficials,planningboardmembers,representativesoflakeassociationsandlocallandtrustsaswellasinterestedcommunitymembers.

The Problem and the Threat: PhosphorusSmallincreasesinphosphoruscanadverselyaffectlakewaterqualityleadingtodecreasedclarity,possiblealgalbloomsandacceleratedeutrophication.Thisinturncanadverselyimpactfishpopulationsandpublicusessuchasswimmingandboating.Phosphorushasthereforebeenidentifiedasthepollutantofconcernforlakemanagementintheplan.Waterqualitydataanalyses,lakeloadingmodels,andlandusemodelswereusedtodefinecurrentin-lakephosphoruslevelsforallfivelakes.Theseanalysesindicatethatallfivelakesneedphosphoruscontrol

CoastalWatershed

Watershed-BasedPlanforHighQualityWatersintheActonWakefieldWatershedRegion-SalmonFallsHeadwatersLakes

ActonWakefieldWatershedAlliance(AWWA)

2005/2007/2008Restoration

GrantAmount:$108,266

LocalMatch:$210,097

Acton Wakefield Watershed Region

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measurestomaintainorachievehighqualitywaterstatusbaseduponwaterqualitystandardssetbyDESin2010.Thisisespeciallytrueinlightofabuild-outanalysisprojectingthattheregionmaygainover4,200buildingsand9,000peoplewithinthenext44years.Ifnotcontrolled,thisincreaseingrowthcouldresultinseveralhundredmorepoundsofphosphorusenteringthelakeseachyear.

Development of the PlanOverthetwoyearprojectperiodseveralmodelswereutilizedtocharacterizecurrentwaterqualityconditionsandtoidentifyopportunitiestoimproveandprotectthelakes.TheprojectteamworkedtogetherwithMaineandNewHampshireenvironmentalagenciestoorganize,summarize,andanalyzewaterqualitydatagatheredbyvolunteersandprofessionalsovermorethanthreedecades.Theprojectteamalsoanalyzedcurrentlanduseandphosphorusinputstothewatershed.Additionally,AWWAconductedwatershedsurveysoneachlakewiththehelpofover100localvolunteerstoidentifyerosionsitescontributingexcessphosphorustotheprojectlakesandtributaries.Thesedataenabledtheprojectscientiststodeterminethecurrentin-lakestatusandsetphosphorusgoalsforeachlake.(Table1)

InJanuary2009,stakeholdersgatheredtodiscusspreliminaryresultsfromanalysesandtobrainstormwaterqualityimprovementandprotectionactionitems.Thesteeringcommitteethenusedtheseideastodevelopanactionplanwithfivekeyactionareas.(Table2)Specifictasksweredevelopedforeachkeyactionareathatidentifiedresponsibleparties,potentialfundingsources,approximatecosts,andanimplementationschedule

Next Steps Thesuccessofthiswatershedmanagementplanisdependentheavilyonthecooperationofthelocalmunicipalitiesandkeystakeholders.AWWA’sgoalistousetheplantoengageallcommunitymembersintheprotectionoftheregion’smostvaluableasset–itslakes.

AWWAwillconvenethewatershedsteeringcommitteeatleastannuallytoprovideperiodicupdatestotheplan,trackandrecordprogress,andensurethattheplanremainscurrentandrelevantbyaddingnewtasksasneeded.Allachievements,suchaspresscoverage,pollutantloadreductions,outreachactivities,numberofsitesrepaired,numberofvolunteers,fundingreceived,andnumberofsitesdocumented,willbetracked.Inaddition,establishedmeasureswillbeusedtodeterminetheeffectivenessoftheplanonreachingthewaterqualitygoals.

Table1.In-lakePhosphorusGoals:MaintainorImproveLakeWaterQuality

Maintain water quality at current in-lake phosphorus

level:• GreatEastLake-6.4ppb• WilsonLake-6.5ppb• HornPond-8.0ppb**FurtheranalysiswillbeconductedtoconfirmthegoalatHornPond

Improve water quality and reduce in-lake phosphorus

to 7.2 ppb:• LakeIvanhoe:reduceby

0.8ppb• LovellLake:reduceby

0.3ppb

Table2.FiveKeyActionAreastoMaintainorImproveLakeWaterQuality

Private and Public Roadway BMPs:Reducesedimentloadsthroughthestabilizationandreinforcementofroadcrossingsandroadsides.

Residential BMPs, Riparian Buffers, Low Impact Develop-ment and Septic Systems: Encouragevegetatedbuffersandlowimpactdevelopmenttechniques.Implementasepticsysteminspectionandpumpingprogram.

Community Planning:Strengthenandenforceregulationstoprotectwaterquality.

Land Conservation:Coordinatewithmunicipalities,landtrusts,regionalplanningcommissions,andlakeassocia-tionstoensurethatsomelandremainsinanundisturbedstatewhichwillhelpreducetotalphosphorusrunoff.

Education and Outreach:Workwithseasonalandfull-timeresidentstoenhancetheunderstandingoflanduse/waterqualityconnections.

CoastalWatershed

WillandPondDrainageEstablishmentandPublicOutreach

CityofDover

2004-2007Restoration

GrantAmount:$68,064

LocalMatch:$58,517

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Willand Pond and identified retrofit areas.

Willand Pond Drainage Establishment and Public Outreach

WillandPondisanatural,spring-fedkettlepondlocatedinbothSomersworthandDover.Thepondhasadrainageareaofapproximately330acres,andasurfaceareaofapproximately80acres.ThewatershedwasusedasapublicdrinkingwatersourcebythecityofDoverfrom1876until1966.Thepondhasalsoservedasapublicrecreationalareasincethe1890swhenitwasthesiteofaVictorian-stylepark.Itshistoricaluseasawatersupplyandrecreationaldestinationprotecteditfromsignificantcommercialdevelopmentpressureuntilthe1960swhenaggressivedevelopmentandlanduseconversionoccurredintheareasurroundingthepond.Thecumulativeeffectofmanyyearsofdevelopment,compoundedwithcessationofwaterwithdrawalsandthreeconsecutiveyearsofrecord-breakingprecipitationin2006-2008contributedtosustainedelevatedsurfacewaterlevels,flooding,propertydamage,andwaterqualitydegradation.

In2006WillandPondwaslistedasimpairedforAquaticLifeandPrimaryContactRecreationontheDES305(b)/303(d)SurfaceWaterQualityAssessment.Waterqualitydegradationofthepondculminatedwithalargecyanobacteriabloominthesummerof2007.Thepondwaspostedandclosedforrecreationalpurposesfrommid-Julyuntilthefallof2007.Historically,theadjacent

wetlandareahadbeenacrucialfactorinthepond’sabilitytobalanceitswaterbudget(throughfloodflowalterationandstorage).However,man-madealterationstothedischargecoupledwithincreasedinputsfromprecipitationandstormwaterhaveoverwhelmedthesystem’sabilitytoequilibrateitself.Toimprovewaterquality,immediateactionswouldbenecessarytoreducebothnutrientsourcesandsurfacewaterelevation.

ThegoalsofthisprojectweretoreviewandassessthenaturalandanthropogenicfactorscausingfloodingandwaterqualityissuesatWillandPond,andtodeveloppublicoutreachfocusedonpromotingpondstewardship.DESworkedwiththecitiesofDoverandSomersworthand

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twoprivateconsultants,S.W.ColeEngineeringInc.andHorsleyWittenGroupInc.toassesshistoricalandcurrenthydrologicandlanduseconditions.Theprojectteamworkedcloselywithneighborhoodresidentsandbusinessestodevelopandsustainthe“FriendsofWillandPond,”alocaladhocgroupdedicatedtorestoringandprotectingthepond.TheFriendscreatededucationalmaterialsandconductedworkshopsandactivitiestopromotepondrestorationincludingwaterqualitymonitoringevents,pondcleanups,trailplanningsessions,safetyplanningmeetings,landownerworkshops,andmore.Theassessmentofhistoricalandcurrentconditionsservedasthebasisforthedevelopmentofawatershedmanagementplan,whichprovidesbothstructuralandnon-structuralrestorationpracticesforaddressingwaterqualityandquantityissuesofthepond.

Theplan’srecommendationsincludestormwaterretrofitstoreducephosphorusloadingtothepond;conceptualdesignsforrestoringhydrologicconnectivityinthepond’soutletareatoalleviatewaterlevelissuesrelatedtoencroachmentfromdevelopment,adoptionoflocalwaterqualityprovisions,andsustainedpubliceducationandoutreacheffortssupportedbybothcitiesandtheFriendsofWillandPond.

Willand Pond. Photo by Norma Willard, Friends of Willand Pond.

CoastalWatershed

HodgsonBrookRestorationYears3&4

BlueOceanSocietyforMarineConservation

2006Restoration

GrantAmount:$85,020

LocalMatch:$58,277

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Hodgson Brook Restoration Years 3 & 4

HodgsonBrookisanurbanstreamthatisimpactedbyhighstormwaterflowsthatarecontaminatedfromparkinglotsandroads.Inaddition,overtheyearsithasbeenstraightened,channelized,andpipedunderground.Thisprojectimplementsyear3and4oftheWatershedRestorationPlanforHodgsonBrook.Theprojectgoalsincludedraisingthepublic’sawarenessofthebrook’sconditionbyconnectingwatershedresidentsandbusinessestothebrook,andbyhighlightingsolutionseachcouldtaketoimproveitscondition.

Thesupportofwatershedresidentsandbusinessesandultimatelytheiractionsarecriticaltoachievingthegoalofcleaningupthebrook.Theactivitiesconductedthroughthisprojectinitiatedtheprocessofengaginglocalresidentsandbusinessandschoolsintherestorationeffort.Capacitybuildingactivitiesincluded:

• Participationinthewaterqualitysampling,monitoringstreamflow,trashsurveysandcleanups,stormdrainstenciling,andhelpingwithinvasiveplantsurveys.

• NewFranklinSchoolstudentsandteacherscreatedandrecordedpublicserviceradioannouncementsencouragingthepublictohelp“SavetheBrook!”ThesewereintroducedbythestudentsontheEnvironmentalShowandairedonPortsmouthCommunityRadio106.1.

•Stormdrainstencilinganddistributionofinformationalflyers.

•UNHstudentsconductedstormwaterretrofitsurveystoidentifylocationsforfutureLIDinstallations.

•TheHodgsonBrookAdvisoryBoardmembershelpedboththeCityofPortsmouthandPeaseDevelopmentAuthority(PDA)evaluateand

Volunteers plant a buffer along Hodgson Brook.

13

strengthentheirregulationstobetterprotectthebrookandotherwaterresources.BoardmembersalsoadvisedonamajorredevelopmentprojectalongthebrookwhichresultedinadditionalinstallationsofLIDtechnologiestoreducetheimpactofstormwaterrunofffromthesite.

• GreatBayCommunityCollegeprovidedofficespaceforprojectworkandembracedthechallengeofretrofittingitscampusgroundsforwaterqualityincludingusingperviouspavementinarecentparkinglotexpansionanddaylightingasectionofdrainage.

Amajorsuccessoftheprojectwastherestorationofapproximately150feetofstreambufferlocatedatthePortInn.Thestreambankwaserodingandunstable.Vegetationatthesiteconsistedmainlyofinvasivespecies.UNHCooperativeExtensionstaffdesignedanattractivenativeplantingplanforthebuffer.InvasivespecieswereremovedfromthesiteandvolunteersfromtheUnitedWayhelpedplantthenewbuffer.TheprojectwasfeaturedonNewHampshirePublicTelevisioninaseriesofinterviewsandsitevisits.Thebankisnowstabilizedandnativevegetationisinplacetofilterpollutantsandhelpkeepthebankintact.ThePortInnprovidedgenerousdonationsofcash,staffassistance,andservicestosupporttheproject.OwnersofthePortInnmaintainthebufferandareproudofitsnaturalbeautyandwaterqualitybenefits.

ThelocalcapacitybuiltduringthisgrantwillenablethenextphaseoftheHodgsonBrookRestorationProjecttomoveforwardwithstronglocalpartnershipsanddemonstratedsuccess!

Catch basin retrofit in Portsmouth before (above) and after (right).

CoastalWatershed

CainsBrookandMillCreekRestoration

TownofSeabrook

2006Restoration

GrantAmount:$68,240

LocalMatch:$57,758

SedimentLoadReduction:1.9tons/year

Cains Brook clean-up day.

14

Cains Brook and Mill Creek Restoration

TheCainsBrookandMillCreekWatershedManagementPlanwasdevelopedbytheSeabrookConservationCommissionin2006,andrevisedin2009,toguidelocalrestorationeffortstorestoreaquatic,riverineandrecreationalusestothewatershed.ThisprojectimplementedthreeactionitemsfromtheplanincludinginstallingastructuralBMP,anoil/trash/gritseparatorchamberdevice,toreducesedimentandpollutantloadingfromtheadjacentUSRoute1roadway.TheinstallationofthisBMPwillremoveanestimated1.9tonsofsedimentannually.

Toaddressthelargevolumeoftrashdepositedinthewatershed,outreachtothecommunitywasconductedandaCainsPondclean-updaywasheldwhereparticipantsremovedoveronetonoftrashfromtheriparianarea.

AteamofvolunteermonitorswasrecruitedandtrainedbytheDESVolunteerRiverAssessmentProgramstaff.Eightsitesweresampledforvariousparametersduringtheprojectperiod.Finalreportswereproducedandsamplingresultswillbeusedtoguidefuturerestorationefforts.AssessmentworkconductedduringtheprojectalsoresultedindocumentationofanadditionalimpairmentfornavigationtoCainsPond(seeCainsPondRestorationonpage15).

Theprojectraisedlocalawarenessofthebrookandpondsinthewatershedasrecreationalresourcesworthprotecting.Italsohelpedbuildmomentumforfutureworkandimplementedkeysedimentloadreductionmeasures.

CoastalWatershed

CainsPondRestoration

TownofSeabrook

2006Restoration

GrantAmount:$91,800

LocalMatch:$196,300

SedimentLoadReduction:750tons/year

Cains Pond shallow depth before dredging. Photo: Duncan Mellor, Waterfront Engineers

15

Cains Pond Restoration

Formanyyears,Seabrookresidentsenjoyedskating,fishing,smallboating,andotherrecreationalactivitiesonCainsPond.However,increaseddevelopmentsurroundingthepondandthebreachoftheCainsDamduringtheMothersDaystormof2006resultedinmorerapidthannormalinfiltrationofsedimentandshallowerponddepths.Asthepond’sdepthbecameshallower,conditionsbecamemoreconducivetoinvasiveplantswhichinfestedthemarginsandsurfaceofthepond.Thisseverelylimitedrecreationalactivitiesduetosedimentdepositsanddenseplantgrowth.

CainsPondwaslistedonthe2010303(d)listforasecondarycontactrecreationimpairment.Thegoalsofthisprojectweretorestorenavigation,improvehabitat,andcreatebetterpublicaccesstothepond.InaccordancewiththeCainsBrookandMillCreekWatershedManagementPlan,lowimpactdredgingwasdeterminedtobeawaytoremoverecentlyaccumulatedmaterialsincludingsedimentanddecayedplantmaterialandrestorethepondtohistoricaldepthsthatwerepresentwhenrecreationwaspossible.Additionalrecommendationsintheplantoimprovepublicaccess,constructionofafishingplatform,andaquaticorganismpassagewerealsoimplementedduringthisproject.

Toaddressthenavigationimpairmentover7,500cubicyardsofmaterialwasremovedfromthepondand25,000squarefeetofinvasiveplants.Inaddition,“deepholes”ofuptosevenfeetweredugtoprovidehabitatforfishandotheraquaticlife.The“inlet-to-outlet”dredgepatternmakestheentirelengthofthepondnavigable.

Two“CainsBrook–KeepitClean”signswereplacedalongRoute1neartherestorationsitetoremindvisitors,residentsandmotoriststokeeptrashandotherdebrisoutofthepondandbrook.Thisisacontinuationofpreviousoutreacheffortstoreducetrashinputtothebrook.

Abathymetricsurveywasconductedtoshowpostdredgeponddepthsandprovidesacomparisontopre-dredgedepths.Pre-andpostphotodocumentationofthesitewasconductedtorecordchangesinconditionsandrecreationalactivity.

Thisprojectalsoaddressedrelatedactionitemsinthewatershedplanforimprovingpondhabitatandpublicaccess:

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• AquaticandWildlifePassageImprovementsNature-likestonerock/riffleswereconstructedtoreplaceaverticalconcreteweirstructureattheRoute1crossing/outletofCainsPondandatadjacentMary’sPondatLakeshoreDrive.Thenature-likerockrifflesallowforgreatlyimprovedaquaticorganismstreampassageandwillalsopreventculvertentrancescourandwillmaintainthepond’swaterlevelstopreserveaquatichabitat,recreationaluses,andscenicviews.Afterconstruction,wildlifewereobservedusingthenewrockriffletotravelupstreamfromthelowerreachesofthewatershedintoCainsPond.Priortoconstructionoftheberm,wildlifehadtocrossRoute1inordertoenterorleaveCainsPond.

• PublicAccessImprovementsPublicaccessimprovementsincludedconstructionofahandicappedaccessibleoverlook/fishingplatformadjacenttothepondandinstallationofacartopboatlaunch.AneasementwiththeneighboringpropertyownerwasgrantedforthecreationofapublicADAparkingareaadjacenttothepublicaccessimprovements.

Asaresultoftheseimprovements,smallboatsarenowabletonavigatethepondonceagain.AsuccessstorydetailingtherestorationworkwaspostedtotheEPA“SuccessStory”websiteinthefallof2011http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/success319/nh_cain.cfm.Accordingly,thesecondarycontactrecreationuseimpairmentforCainsPondwillberemovedfromthestate’sCWAsection303(d)listin2012.

Kayaking returns to Cains Pond.Photo: Sue Foote, Seabrook Conservation Commission

MerrimackRiverWatershed

HancockVillageStormwaterManagementandWaterQualityImprovement

TownofHancock

2005/2007Base

GrantAmount:$94,800

LocalMatch:$125,879

TSSReduction:8.8tons/year

PhosphorusReduction:25.9lbs/yr

NitrogenReduction:265.3lbs/yr

The town of Hancock’s road agent, Kurtis Grassett, leads DES and EPA staff on a tour of

the town’s stormwater improvements.

17

Hancock Village Stormwater Management and Water Quality Improvement

Throughthisproject,thetownofHancocktookaproactiveapproachtoprotectinglocalresources.ThoughwaterqualityintheadjacentNorwayPondandDavisBrookwerequitegood,stormwaterrunoffwascontributingpollutantsandthreateningthesevaluableresources.TheHancockMainStreetroadwayimprovementprojectrepresentedatimelyopportunitytoincorporatepracticesthatwouldimproveroaddrainageandothertraditionalgoalsforstormwaterconveyance–butwouldalsoprovideprotectionforNorwayPondandDavisBrook.

Thevillagearea’supgradedstormwatermanagementsystemnowincludesseveraltreatmentdevicestoprotectwaterqualityincludingseventeendeepsumpcatchbasins,thirteenleachingcatchbasins,andtwoinfiltrationchambers.Thecatchbasinsaredesignedtoremovesedimentsuchasroadsandfromthestormwaterbyallowingittosettleinthebasinwhilethewaterflowsthrough.Thebasinscanthenbecleanedoutandthesanddiscardedorreused.Theinfiltrationchambersallowthesoiltoactasanaturalfiltertreatingstormwaterpollutantssuchasbacteriaandphosphorus.Itisestimatedthatthesetreatmentdeviceswillresultinannualpollutantloadreductionsofover8.8tonsofsediment,25.9poundsofphosphorusand265.3poundsofnitrogenthatwouldotherwisehavebeendelivereddirectlytoNorwayPondandDavisBrook.

Theprojectalsoimprovedtheboatrampandbeachareabyre-gradingtheparkingandboatrampsothatstormwaterisnowredirected,reducingbeacherosionandstormwaterrunofftothepond.Anadditionalbenefitofthisworkistheimprovedparkingareaandaccesspathsforbeachusers.Akioskwasinstalledthatprovideseducationalinformationtoresidentsandvisitorsonstormwater,theBMPsthatwereinstalledandwaysthatindividualscantakeresponsibilitytoprotectwaterquality.

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MerrimackRiverWatershed

LakeWinnipesaukeeWatershedManagementPlan:Meredith,PaugusandSaundersBays

LakesRegionPlanningCommission

2008Base

GrantAmount:$76,640

LocalMatch:$73,519

Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Management Plan: Meredith, Paugus, and Saunders Bays

LakeWinnipesaukee,thelargestfreshwaterbodyinNewHampshire,istheprincipaleconomicandenvironmentalfeatureintheNewHampshireLakesRegion.Withasizeof44,587acresthetotalwatershedareaencompasses369squaremiles.Inlightofitssignificance,itissurprisingtonotethattheredoesnotexistacomprehensivewatershedmanagementplanforthegreaterWinnipesaukeewatershedarea.Thisprojectispartofalong-termstrategytocreateapublic,comprehensiveweb-basedwatershedmanagementplanforLakeWinnipesaukee.Duetothesizeofthewatershedandthenumberofcommunitiesinvolved,theplanwillbecompletedinsegments,usingasub-watershedapproach.Thisprojectfocusedonthesub-watershedsofMeredithBay,PaugusBayandSaundersBay.Potentialthreatstowaterqualityincludenonpointsourcedischargesasaresultoffailingsepticsystems,recreationalimpactsanddevelopmentpressures.Theprojectincludedanevaluationofthecausesandpotentialthreatstowaterquality,landusemapping,establishingin-lakephosphoruslevelsandawaterqualitygoal,developmentofawebsite,outreachandon-goingmonitoring.

In2005thecommunitiesofMeredith,LaconiaandGilfordformedanadvisorycommitteetofocusonwaterqualityprotectionofMeredithBay,PaugusBayandSaundersBay.PartneringwiththeLakeWinnipesaukeeWatershedAssociation,LakesRegionPlanningCommission,NorthCountryResourceConservationandDevelopmentAreaCouncil,UNH,PlymouthStateandDESthesuccessofthisproject

wasrealized.

Oneofthemajoroutcomesoftheprojectwasaconsensus-basedwaterqualitygoalandmissionstatementforthethreebaysstudiedunderthisphaseoftheplan.AnexcerpttakenfromthemanagementplanforthesubwatershedincludingMeredith,Paugus,andSaundersBaysincludesthefollowingsharedmissionstatement:“Thefundamentalgoalofthiswatershedmanagementplanistohaltorminimizefurtherwaterqualitydegradationattributabletonutrientinputs,primarilyphosphorusinordertomaintainourhighqualitywater.CurrenttotalphosphoruslevelsinMeredith,Paugus,andSaundersBaysarebelowthestatestandardof8.0ug/Lestablishedforhighqualitywater.WewillworktowardmaintainingLake Winnipesaukee Water Sampling Points.

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orimprovingcurrenttotalphosphoruslevelsbystabilizingnutrientinputsthroughthereductionofnutrientsources.Wewillmanagelandscapechangetolimitnutrientloadsthroughstormwatermanagement,adoptionoflowimpactdevelopmenttechniques,innovativelanduseplanning,andinstallationofbestmanagementpractices.Ourlocallyderivedstrategiesarepurposeful,considerateandcomprehensive.Ourapproachembodiesflexibilityallowingustoachieveourstatedgoalwhilemeetingthediverseneedsandcapacitiesofallwatershedstakeholders.”Thewebbasedplanknownas“WinnipesaukeeGateway”islocatedatwww.winnipesaukeegateway.org.Itisthefirstofitskindinthestateinthatratherthanastaticdocument,theweb-basedplanwillensurethattheplanisreadilyaccessibletoallstakeholdersandthegeneralpublicwiththemostcurrentinformationsothatprogresscanbetracked.Italsolaysthefoundationforfuturesub-watershedplandevelopmentthatwilleventuallyresultinacomprehensivewatershedmanagementplanfortheentireWinnipesaukeewatershed.Inrecognitionofcreatingthefirstweb-basedwatershedmanagementplantobeapprovedbyDES,theWinnipesaukeeGatewaywasselectedbytheNewHampshirePlannersAssociationasProjectoftheYearin2011.BuildingfromthesuccessfuldevelopmentoftheWinnipesaukeeGateway,theLakesRegionPlanningCommissionhasalreadyinitiatedthenextphaseofwatershedmanagementplanningforCenterHarborandhasplanstopursueadditionalfundinginthecomingyearstodevelopaplanforMoultonboroughInletaswell.

Lake Winnipesaukee. Photo by Gary Tompkins.

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MerrimackRiverWatershed

Cobbett’sPondWatershedRestorationPlan

Cobbett’sPondImprovementAssociation

2004/2005/2008Restoration

GrantAmount:$83,591

LocalMatch:$61,826

Cobbett’s Pond Watershed Restoration Plan

Cobbett’sPondinWindhamislocatedinaheavilydevelopedwatershedinsoutheasternNewHampshire.VLAPmonitoringhasshownthatoverthepast19yearsthepondhasshiftedfromoligotrophictoeutrophicstatus.Diminisheddissolvedoxygenlevelsandincreasedlevelsofchlorophyll-ahaveresultedinCobbett’sPondnolongersupportingthedesignateduseforaquaticlife.Whentheprojectstarted,Cobbett’sPondwasonthe305(b)/303(d)listofimpairedwatersforadissolvedoxygensaturationimpairment.Afterthegrantaward,additionalimpairmentsforchorophyll-a,non-nativeaquaticplants,andtotalphosphorushavebeenadded.

In2008,theCobbett’sPondImprovementAssociationwasawardedSection319grantfundstocreateawatershedrestorationplan.Thegoalsfortheassociationweretoidentifypollutantsourcescausingthedissolvedoxygenimpairment,generateawatershedrestorationplantoaddressthesesources,andimplementrecommendedactionswithinthewatershedtohelprestorethepondtofullysupportingstatus.Afterthedevelopmentoftherestorationplan,theassociationcreatedateamofresidentstoreviewandprioritizesitesinthewatershedthatshouldmoveforwardwiththeimplementationofBMPs.

InAugustof2009,theCPIAwroteaWatershedProtectionOrdinanceforCobbett’sPond.InDecember,theWindhamPlanningBoardunanimouslysupportedthepetitionfortownmeeting,andinMarchof2010,townresidentsadoptedtheordinance.TheadoptionoftheseadditionalprotectionsforCobbett’sPondwillfacilitatewaterqualityimprovementpracticesinthewatershed.

AlthoughtheultimategoalofrestoringCobbett’sPondtofullysupportingdesignatedusesmaynotberealizedimmediately,therecommendedstrategiesintheplanaswellastheimplementationofpriorityNPScontrolmeasureswillactasthecatalystforchangestobemadeatboththemunicipalandindividuallandownerscalesthroughregulatoryandvolunteerinitiatives.

A stormwater generated sediment plume discharging to Cobbett’s Pond from the Fossa Road area - one of the priority sites identified for the

construction of BMPs in the Cobbett’s Pond watershed restoration plan.

21

MerrimackRiverWatershed

LakeHoraceMarshRestoration

PiscataquogLandConservancy

2003/2004Restoration

GrantAmount:$64,359

LocalMatch:$42,843

Lake Horace Marsh Restoration

LakeHoraceMarshisadesignated“primewetland”inWearealongtheNorthBranchofthePiscataquogRiver.Itsecologicalfunctionswereseverelycompromisedbydownstreamdamoperations.RaisingthelevelsofLakeHoraceinthespringandloweringtheminthefalltoaccommodatewaterfrontdockprotectiononHoraceLakehaddireeffectsformostaquaticfloraandfauna.Wildlifesurveysthroughoutthemarshreflecteddrasticreductionsfromnumbersonewouldexpectofwaterfowl,amphibians,mammals,aquaticreptilesandinsects.

Thisprojectinvolvedtheconstructionofarun-of-riverecologicalwatercontrolstructure,designedbyengineersfromtheDESDamBureau,downstreamofthemarshattheconfluenceofHoraceLake.Consistingofcrushedstone,coveredbyageomembranefabricwithlargerdiameterstoneontop,theinstalledcontrolstructureextendsacrosstheriverinadownstream-facingarc.Whenthelakeisdrainedinthefall,waterlevelsdonotfallbelowthetopofthestructure,thuseliminatingthedramaticspringandfallfluctuationsthatcharacterizedthemarshsystembeforeinstallation.Atfullpondelevationinthesummermonths,theecologicalwatercontrolstructureissubmergedbyatleasttwofeetofwaterallowingpassageforcanoes,kayaksandsmallboats.Postmonitoringtodatehasshownthatmarshvegetationhasrespondedpositivelytothestabilizedwaterlevelswithdamagestonestingareasofmanymammalsbeingeliminatedaswell.

Additionalmonitoringisplannedforfiveyearspostconstructiontofurtherevaluatehowtheplantandfishpopulationsareresponding.

Lake Horace Marsh before construction of water control structure in 1998 and after construction in 2011.

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ConnecticutRiverWatershed

WarrenBrookRestorationPlanning

TownofAlstead

2007Restoration

GrantAmount:$12,600

LocalMatch:$8,600

Warren Brook Restoration Planning

AsaresultoftheOctober2005flooddisasterinAlstead,WarrenBrookwaslistedasimpairedforaquaticlifeusesupportbasedonbioassess-mentdata.InitialdisasterresponsefundingfromtheNaturalResourcesConservationServiceledtostabilizationofWarrenBrook,mostlywithstonebanking,in2006and2007.DESprovidedfundingtothetownofAlsteadin2008todeveloparestorationplan,prioritizerestorationsites,anddevelopandpermitafinaldesignforonesite

Theprojectpartners,includingtheNewHampshireFish&GameDe-partmentandthetownofAlstead,identifiedthereachofWarrenBrookbetweenstateRoute123andGriffinHillRoadasthetopprioritysiteforrestorationduetoitsgeomorphicinstabilityandthelimitednumberoflandownersthatwouldbeaffectedbyconstruction.

Projectdesignandpermittingwerecompletedwith319fundswhich,inturn,helpedAlsteadsecure$240,000infederalstimulusmoneyfromtheU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceforconstruction,whichwascompletedin2011.

Restored channel of Warren Brook looking upstream.

Section of Warren Brook prior to restoration.

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Looking Ahead

In2012,stateswillbeworkingwithEPAtoredesignthefederal319programtoaddressconcernsde-scribedinEPA’sreporttotheOfficeofManagementandBudget.ItislikelythatNewHampshire,likemanystates,willberequiredtoupdatethestateNonpointSourceManagementPlanbytheendof2013.Thisworkwillbeginin2012andislikelytoincludeaprioritysystemforworkinginwatersheds,aswellasrecommendedchangestostatewideapproachestononpointsourcemanagement.

Weanticipateincreasedfederalscrutinyrelativetotheuseof319funds,forwhichDESiswell-pre-pared.Wearecarefultoensurethatgranteesfollowfederalfundingguidelinesandthateachprojecthasquantifiablegoalsandsystemstomeasureprogresstowardthosegoals.Itisourrecentexperi-encethatsuchanapproachimprovesthelikelihoodofsuccessforlocalwatershedpractitionersbecausewatershedstakeholdersbetterunderstandwhyspecificmeasuresarebeingproposedandimplemented.

NitrogenfrompermittedwastewaterdischargesintheGreatBaywatershedhasreceivedquiteabitofattentioninthenewsmediaduringthepastyear.Meanwhile,DEShasbeenbusyworkingtoquan-tifythenonpointsourcesofnitrogeninthewatershed.BySeptember2012,DESexpectstohavethebreakdownofNPSnitrogenfromlawnfertilizer,septicsystems,andstormwaterrunoff,whichwillguideeffortsbymanystakeholdersworkingtorestoreGreatBay.

Alongtheselines,DESwillbeparticipatinginaneffortledbytheNewEnglandgovernorstodevelopvoluntarylawnfertilizerguidelines.WithheavystakeholderparticipationandcoordinatedbytheNewEnglandInterstateWaterPollutionControlCommission,thegoalofthiseffortistocreateguide-linesforthemanufacture,saleandapplicationoflawnfertilizers.

In2012wealsohopetogainsomeclarityonhowstormwaterisaddressedwithrespecttothe319program.SincestormwaterisregulatedasapointsourceunderthefederalMS4program,and319fundscannotbeusedtoimplementprojectsrequiredbyapointsourcepermit,thedistinctionofwhatisrequiredbythepermitisanimportantone.Adraftpermitreleasedin2009byEPAincludesprovisionsrequiringmunicipalretrofitsinareasdrainingtoimpairedwaters.Severalwatershed-basedplansdevelopedbyourpartnersinMS4areasrecommendthisveryactivity.Ifthedraftpermitlanguageremainsunchanged,thiswillcurtailourabilitytoassistlocalgroupswhocontinuetoimple-menttheseplans.Buildingthecapacitytodevelopandimplementwatershed-basedplansrequiressignificantinvestmentsoftimeandmoney,anditisourhopethatthisworkcancontinue,regardlessofhowitisfundedorpermitted.

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Appendix ADESSection319WatershedAssistanceGrantsforHighQualityWatersAwardedinFFY2011

Grantee ProjectName ProjectNo.

NPSPollutantCategory

Watershed SourceofFunds(FFY)

GrantAward

LakesRegionPlanning

Commission

LakeWinnipesaukeeWatershedMgt.Plan-CenterHarbor

B-11-M-02 AllSources Merrimack 2011Baseand2010/2011

Incremental

$55,000

GreenMountainConservation

Group

OssipeeWatershedPlan-Phase1AlternativesAnalysis

B-11-S-01 AllSources Saco 2011Base $15,000

TownofWolfeboro LakeWentworthandCrescentLakeWatershedMgt.Plan

B-11-M-03 AllSources Merrimack 2011Base $67,800

TownofBrentwood

MiddleExeterRiverWatershedMgt.PlanImplementationPhase1,RowellRoadWest

B-11-C-04 UrbanRunoff/

Stormwater

Coastal 2010Incremen-tal

$49,152

UNHStormwaterCenter

UNHStormwaterCenterOnCallEngineersforSmallScale

BMPImplementation

B-11-C-01 UrbanRunoff/

Stormwater

Statewide 2010Incremen-tal

$25,000

TotalAward:$211,952

DESSection319WatershedRestorationGrantsforImpairedWatersAwardedinFFY2011Grantee ProjectName Project

No.NPSPollutant

CategoryWatershed Sourceof

Funds(FFY)GrantAward

BlueOceanSocietyforMarine

Conservation

HodgsonBrookWatershedRestorationPlanPhase2BMPsand

ChlorideTMDLdevelopment

R-11-C-05 UrbanRunoff/

Stormwater

Coastal 2009/2010Incremental

$104,574

CityofFranklin WebsterLake-LakeShoreDriveCommunitySepticSystemDesign

andDesign/implementationofBMPs

R-09-M-03 Stormwater/Other

Merrimack 2009Incremental

$70,000

CityofDover BerryBrookWatershedRestorationPlanPhase1Implementation

R-06-C-10 UrbanRunoff/Storm-

water

Coastal 2006Incremental

$55,000

CityofDover BerryBrookWatershedRestorationPlanImplementationPhase2,LID

Retrofits

R-11-C-02 UrbanRunoff/Storm-

water

Coastal 2008/2011Incremental

$147,200

CobbettsPondImprovement

Association

CobbettsPondWatershedRestorationPlanImplementation

Phase2,FossaRoadBMPs

R-10-M-05 UrbanRunoff/Storm-

water

Merrimack 2006/2010Incremental

$100,000

CochecoRiverWatershedCoalition

CochecoRiverWatershedRestorationPlanImplementation

Phase2,RochesterLID

R-11-C-04 UrbanRunoff/Storm-

water

Coastal 2011Incremental

$109,500

NHRiversCouncil McQuestenBrookWatershedRestorationPlanPhase1

R-11-M-01 UrbanRunoff/Storm-

water

Merrimack 2011Incremental

$17,000

TotalAwarded: $603,274

Appendix B

25

Appendix CDistribution of Section 319 Grant Dollars

Awarded in FFY 2011 by Watershed

Appendix DDistribution of Section 319 Grant Dollars

Awarded in FFY 2011 by NPS Category

Statewide3%

Saco2%

Merrimack38%

Coastal57%

C. Distribution of Section 319 Grant Dollars Awarded in FFY 2011 by Watershed

Urban Runoff/Stormwater

$677,426

General NPS $137,800

D. Distribution of Section 319 Grant Dollars Awarded in FFY 2011 by NPS Category

26

Appendix EDESSection319BaseProjectsCompletedinFFY2011

Grantee ProjectName FFYSourceof

Funds

Grant# DateCompleted

Watershed 319Funds

TotalCost

ActonWakefieldWatershed

Alliance

Watershed-BasedPlanforHighQualityWatersinthe

AWWARegion

2005/2007/2008

B-08-C-02 10/14/2010 Coastal $108,266 $318,363

TownofHancock HancockVillageStormwaterMgt.andWaterQuality

Improvement

2005/2007 B-07-M-04 1/18/2011 Merrimack $94,800 $220,679

LakesRegionPlanning

Commission

LakeWinnipesaukeeWatershedMgt.Plan:Meredith,Paugusand

SaundersBays

2008 B-08-M-04 3/31/2011 Merrimack $76,640 $150,159

Total $279,706 $689,201

Appendix FDESSection319RestorationProjectsCompletedinFFY2011

Grantee ProjectName FFYSource

ofFunds

Grant# DateCompleted

Watershed 319Funds TotalCost

CobbettsPondImprovement

Association

CobbettsPondWatershedRestorationPlan

2004/2005/2008

R-08-M-01 1/3/2011 Merrimack $83,591 $145,417

TownofAlstead

WarrenBrookRestorationPlanning

2007 R-07-CT-05 1/5/2011 Connecticut $12,600 $21,200

CityofDover WillandPondDrainage 2004/2007

R-07-C-02 1/31/2011 Coastal $68,064 $126,581

PiscataquogLand

Conservancy

LakeHoraceMarshRestoration

2003/2004

R-04-M-01 2/7/2011 Merrimack $64,359 $107,201

BlueOceanSociety

forMarineConservation

HodgsonBrookWatershedRestorationPlan

ImplementationYears3&4

2006 R-05-C-13 3/10/2011 Coastal $85,020 $143,297

TownofSeabrook

CainsBrookandMillCreekRestoration

2006 R-06-C-06 4/15/2011 Coastal $68,240 $125,998

TownofSeabrook

CainsPondRestoration-DredgingtoRemove

NavigationImpairment

2006 R-08-C-03 3/28/2011 Coastal $91,800 $288,100

Total $473,674 $957,794

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Appendix G2011EstimatedPollutantLoadReductionsAchieved

Grantee ProjectName FFYSourceofFunds

319Funds

TotalCost

P(lbs/yr)

N(lbs/yr)

Sediment(tons/yr)

Other Model/Method

Notes

CochecoRiver

WatershedCoalition

IntroducingLIDinthe

WillowBrookWatershed

2005and2009-

Restoration

$84,912 $141,548 n/a n/a n/a 34lbs/yrTSS

Region5Model

projectstillin

progress

BlueOceanSociety

forMarineConserva-

tion

ReducingEf-fectiveImper-viousSurfaceintheLower

HodgsonBrookWater-shedThrough

LID

2007and2009-

Restoration

$120,416 $210,398 3 18 1.3 n/a Region5Model

projectstillin

progress

CobbettsPondIm-

provementAssocia-

tion

CobbettsPnd-WatershedRestorationPlanImple-mentation

Phase2:FossaRoadBMPs

2006and2010-

Restoration

$100,000 $173,000 12.1 n/a 4.7 n/a Physicalmeasure

NewfoundLake

RegionAs-sociation

NewfoundLakeWater-shedMasterPlanImple-mentation:

Phase1

2008and2010-Base

$127,960 $238,600 2.7 9.9 0.5 n/a Region5Model

Also43.9lbs/yrBOD,0.26lbs/yrlead,

and0.54lbs/yrzinc

CityofDover

BerryBrookWatershed

ManagementPlan-Imple-

mentationProjectsPhase

1

2006-Restoration

$55,000 $96,790 1 0.01 n/a 147.8lbs/yr

TSS

Region5Model

GraniteLakeAs-sociation

GraniteLakeWatershed

ManagementPlan

2008-Base $50,000 $83,354 0.25 n/a n/a n/a Region5Model

ActonWakefield

Water-sheds

Alliance

SalmonFallsHeadwater

LakesWater-shedManage-

mentPlan

2010-Base $107,952 $214,189 18.7 n/a 21.7 n/a Region5Model

projectstillin

progress