Scammell Bridge looking toward the Bellamy River.

There are seven rivers that drain into the Great Bay estuary, carrying freshwater runoff – as well as pollutants – from 52 communities including 10 in Maine. The Bellamy River, which flows into Little Bay, originates from Swains Lake in Barrington and flows east through the Bellamy Reservoir in Madbury and then through the City of Dover. Seacoast residents might be most familiar with the mouth of the Bellamy, which flows under the Scammell Bridge on Route 4.

Even though I have been working in the Great Bay estuary for nearly twenty-five years, I had never actually been on the river. Last week, I finally got that chance and was amazed by the lack of development along the shoreline. Starting from Little Bay, we cruised all the way to the former Sawyer Woolen Mills in Dover. Other than the occasional truck noise from nearby Spaulding Turnpike that runs parallel to the river, the Bellamy offers one of the best wilderness experiences in all of Great Bay.

Wildlife is abundant along the river, in part due to the presence of two large preserves. Located near the mouth of the Bellamy and Royalls Cove is the Bellamy River Wildlife Sanctuary.  Owned and managed by New Hampshire Audubon, the Sanctuary consists of twenty six acres of prime wildlife habitat. To learn more about the Sanctuary, visit the NH Audubon web site.  For a more detailed description of the hiking trails available, go to Hike New England.

Just above the NH Audubon Sanctuary is the Bellamy River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), managed by the NH Fish and Game Department. The area was acquired in early 1990’s using State land protection funds and protects 400 acres of tidal creeks, wetlands, woodlands and fields. Common wildlife found here are deer, pheasant, bobolinks, meadowlarks and waterfowl. You can learn about hiking opportunities by visiting the Fish and Game website.

Fall is the perfect time to hike all of the protected lands around Great Bay including the two areas above. The Scammell Bridge is also a popular fishing spot for local anglers. However, if you really want to enjoy the abundant birdlife along the Bellamy, I would recommend kayaking the tidal portion of the river.

You can leave right from the Scammell Bridge Access Point. You can park on the north side of Route 4 and from here head up river.  In addition to great blue herons, you can expect to see lots of other bird species especially as fall migration season begins in September. Keep in mind to always check the tides when kayaking in the estuary. The Bellamy River is best enjoyed at high tide providing easy access to the numerous tidal creeks found along the way.

Exploring the Bellamy reminded me why Great Bay is such a special place. As the overall health of the estuary continues to decline, we need to protect this remarkable resource for future generations. To learn more about my efforts to help rescue Great Bay from further decline, click here. You can also sign our online petition to support clean water in the estuary.

An algae bloom in the Winnicut River, NH. Photo by Peter Wellenberger.

A week ago I had the pleasure of attending an event to celebrate the restoration of a tidal river. The Winnicut River – primarily located in Greenland, NH – is now the only dam-free river in the Great Bay estuary. Thanks to the hard work of the Winnicut River Watershed Coalition and numerous state and federal agencies, the project includes a new fish passage and, in addition to the dam removal, a restored shoreline.

Despite being a beautiful July summer day, the event was marred by one distinct image. The free-flowing river now supports a large area of abnormal algae growth – the direct result of excessive nutrients. Standing on the water’s edge, it was impossible to miss the mat of green slime. This certainly put a damper on the celebration.

The Winnicut River is not the only site in the estuary where algae is now taking over. Large mats of macroaglae can be found in the Lubberland Creek area, and algae has been taking over places where eelgrass – the ecological cornerstone of the estuary – historically grew. However, the Winnicut River provides a valuable lesson that despite our best efforts, the Great Bay estuary faces the risk of further degradation that could lead to a collapse of its sensitive ecosystem. Our only option is to invest in the needed improvements to our infrastructure to dramatically reduce the amount of nitrogen pollution from wastewater treatment plants and stormwater.

This is why it’s so important to build a stronger voice for the estuary, and why I’ve been working so hard to build the Rescue Great Bay coalition. In a previous blog, I discussed the formation of this new collaboration – at that time consisting of eight founding members: the NH chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association, the NH Coastal Protection Partnership, the Great Bay chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Town of Newington, the Winnicut River Watershed Coalition, the NH Rivers Council, EcoMovement, and CLF’s Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper.  I’m pleased to say that in the last month alone, six more organizations have joined the effort – the Great Bay Stewards, New Hampshire Audubon, the Exeter-Squamscott Local Advisory Committee, the Lamprey River Watershed Association, the Oyster River Watershed Association, and Green Power Management Holdings, Inc. of Newmarket, NH.

As Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper, I’m pleased to serve as the lead for Rescue Great Bay. We are building a common voice for Great Bay to educate the public about the need for immediate action to clean up the estuary. Everyone has who has joined the group understands what is at stake – the longer we wait to take corrective actions, the more the estuary is at risk.

Part of our effort is to show that the public cares about the Great Bay estuary and wants to see meaningful action.  Toward that end, we now have a “Rescue Great Bay” petition that hundreds of people throughout the Seacoast have signed.  It reads:

“We, the undersigned, believe that clean water and a healthy Great Bay estuary are essential to the quality of life in New Hampshire’s Seacoast region and southern Maine.

“We also recognize that the health of the Great Bay estuary is in decline as a result of  water pollution from sewage treatment plants and stormwater runoff.

           “We understand that public investments will be necessary to clean up the Great Bay estuary and keep it healthy now and for future generations, and we support prompt action to reduce water pollution in accordance with the full protections of the Clean Water Act, including the most stringent limits on nitrogen – the pollutant of greatest concern – from NH and Maine sewage treatment plants affecting the estuary.”

Sign The Petition Here

From Market Square Day in Portsmouth, to other events, it’s been great to engage concerned citizens with this petition, and to see how strongly people feel about protecting the estuary.  If you have not already signed, I urge you to do so by clicking here, where you’ll find an online version of the petition. Please also consider forwarding  the link below to your friends and neighbors and anyone else who cares about the future of this remarkable resource.

Let’s put an end to the sort of water quality problems I saw in the Winnicut River, before it’s too late. Together we can help ensure a cleaner and healthier future for the Great Bay estuary.

Sign The Petition Here

We didn’t always have a love affair with our lawns. Until the late 18th century, most rural homeowners had a patch of packed dirt outside the front door or a small garden that contained a mix of flowers, herbs and vegetables. Up until then, lawns were not practical and were seen strictly as a luxury for wealthy landowners who could afford grounds keepers to maintain the grass with hand tools.

That all changed with the invention of the rotary mower and garden hose. Since then, green, weed-free lawns are common today and millions of Americans spend billions of dollars on landscaping companies to cut and maintain their grass. According to a 2000 Gallup survey, over 26 million US households hired a professional landscaping company. That little patch of green has become a big business.

Unfortunately, when homeowners over-fertilize or apply fertilizers incorrectly they are contributing to the nutrients pollution problem facing so many of our waters. The Great Bay estuary is no exception. The total nitrogen load to the estuary has increased significantly in recent years leading to declines in water quality, as evidenced by significant losses of the estuary’s cornerstone habitat – eelgrass. Preventing nitrogen pollution from lawn care is one of the steps needed to restore water quality and the health of the estuary.

Personally, I have never understood the allure of a green lawn. I don’t want to spend my weekends cutting grass or hire someone to do this work. However, if you prefer having a lawn it is important to make it as environmentally friendly as possible. First, consider downsizing your lawn by planting native shrubs and flowers. Most of my yard is a wild field or landscaped with native plants which provides excellent wildlife habitat. My family enjoys watching all the birds that are attracted to the diversity of plants living here.

Many people choose to have low-maintenance lawns which require no fertilizer. This is a great way to have an environmentally friendly lawn that does not impact water quality. For those who choose to use fertilizer, I encourage you to get your soil tested at the NH Cooperative Extension to learn what fertilizer best meets your needs and how best to apply it.

If fertilizer is required, the best strategy is to use an organic (not synthetic), slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. On the back of the bag, slow-release nitrogen is listed as “water insoluble nitrogen.” By using a slow-release type fertilizer, fewer applications are needed and some experts suggest only fertilizing once a year in the fall. Always remember to carefully follow the directions, as applying any kind of fertilizer can have an adverse impact on water quality. You should only use fertilizer with a content of at least 50% water insoluble nitrogen to protect against adding excess nitrogen to the groundwater that could eventually flow into the estuary.

Other tips for maintaining a healthy lawn with less environmental impact include:

Mow High – Taller grass has deeper, healthier roots; 3 inches or higher is recommended;

Leave Grass Clippings Behind – Grass clippings are a free source of nutrients;

Aerate Your Soil – Aeration allows water, air and nutrients to reach the soil more easily;

Fescue Seeds – Use seed mixtures with a high percentage of fescue grasses, which require less watering and mowing.

More free tips on low input lawn care are available from the UNH Cooperative Extension. The Extension also offers an excellent publication called Landscaping At the Water’s Edge, which provides excellent advice on how to create a natural buffer between your lawn and a waterway.

For more information about the Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper and my work to protect the Great Bay estuary, visit: http://www.clf.org/great-bay-waterkeeper/. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Since assuming the role of Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper six months ago, I have devoted all my time and effort to protecting the Great Bay estuary – a remarkable resource that is threatened by pollution from aging wastewater treatment plants and untreated stormwater.  What I said then holds true today – the threats to the Bay have never been clearer, and the opportunity to fix them never greater.

To create a stronger voice for Great Bay, I am pleased to announce that a coalition of organizations, including a business and a municipality, has come together under the name Rescue Great Bay to demand immediate solutions to clean up the estuary. Rescue Great Bay’s founding members are the New Hampshire Coastal Protection Partnership, EcoMovement, Winnicut River Watershed Coalition, Trout Unlimited-Great Bay Chapter, the Town of Newington, NH, the Coastal Conservation Association-NH Chapter, the New Hampshire Rivers Council, and the Conservation Law Foundation’s Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper.

Population growth, sprawl, and outdated water infrastructure are all contributing to the decline of the Great Bay estuary, pushing it towards a tipping point. Nitrogen pollution levels have increased dramatically, leading to the loss of eelgrass – a critical habitat for fish and other marine species- within the estuary.

The Coalition recognizes reversing these trends will require a multi-pronged approach.  Besides the need to invest in improved municipal infrastructure, the Coalition supports innovative solutions to reduce the amount of stormwater pollution, including efforts to ensure that homeowners are aware of the best practices to minimize their own runoff footprint. Regional cooperation and better informed land use planning will also help control sprawl development that often leads to increased water pollution.

Coalition members will periodically report on progress being made to clean up the Great Bay and publicize success stories to serve as example of effective measures that can be taken to prevent the estuary from collapsing. By contributing to the voices of progress, we hope others will take up the cause and join our effort.

We all benefit from clean water and whether you live within the watershed, conduct your business here or just enjoy visiting the estuary, it is our moral imperative to restore and protect the Great Bay for future generations. Please email me and learn how you can participate in the effort to Rescue Great Bay.

—– For more, visit: http://www.clf.org/great-bay-waterkeeper/. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

One man's waste makes another oyster's spawning bed: tons of recycled shells are spread from a barge in the Squamscott River to restore an oyster reef. Photo courtesy of R. Konisky, TNC

Most people don’t realize that oysters are only found in estuaries. At one time, oysters thrived throughout the Great Bay estuary and were highly desired for human consumption. Because oysters filter the water to feed, they also help to remove pollutants and nutrients and play an important role in keeping our estuaries clean.

Unfortunately, it is increasingly difficult to find oysters in the Great Bay estuary due to disease and siltation. In the mid-1990s, the introduction of two parasitic protozoans – Dermo and MSX – caused a large-scale die-off of adult oysters.  Since then habitat changes due to excess siltation from numerous storm events – an impact of Climate Change – has furthered reduced populations. Forty years ago, there were approximately one thousand acres of oysters in the estuary; today, that number is closer to 70 acres.

To help reverse this decline, The Nature Conservancy and the University of New Hampshire have been working to restore populations by building new oyster reefs in the tidal rivers. Reefs are constructed by spreading tons of recycled shells as oyster spawn need a hard surface to settle on. Once in place, seed oysters are added with the hope they will survive and mature to adults.

After working in the Oyster and Lamprey rivers, the Squamscott River is now being targeted. This effort will build upon an existing reef that extends from the railroad trestle towards Great Bay. Working off a barge, crews recently spread 75 ton of recycled shell in hopes of establishing a two acre reef. Some of the recycled shell is from local restaurants collected by the Coastal Conservation Association-NH Chapter, another partner in the project.

Ray Grizzle at the UNH Jackson Estuarine Lab has been testing different brood stocks and general oyster restoration methods to determine how best to move forward. “During 2012, we hope to be able to conduct in collaboration with EPA scientists a comprehensive assessment of all the major restoration sites we have worked on since 2000. The aim of this effort will be to better determine what has worked and what hasn’t so we can improve the design – and the success – of future projects.”

Support for this year’s restoration project comes from several sources, including federal grants and State of NH Moose Plate funds. CLF and TNC have also been working together to make oyster restoration part of a recent settlement between EPA and Grimmel Industries.

For years, the massive scrap metal facility owned by Grimmel has discharged heavily contaminated stormwater into the Piscataqua River. As a direct result of CLF’s advocacy, the facility has been required to implement significant upgrades to address toxic stormwater pollution runoff into the Piscataqua River. During EPA’s enforcement process, CLF urged EPA and Grimmel to develop a Supplemental Environmental Project to restore oyster and eelgrass habitat in the estuary and worked with Ray Konisky of TNC to develop a restoration proposal. EPA embraced the approach, leading to a commitment by Grimmel to fund an oyster and eelgrass restoration project next year.

While any new oyster reef is a welcome addition, the health of the estuary continues to decline from nitrogen pollution. By filtering the water, oysters are an effective nitrogen-reducing agent. However, they are only a small part of the solution and much more needs to be done such as upgrading local wastewater treatment plants and reducing the amount of stormwater entering the estuary.

—–
For more, visit: http://www.clf.org/great-bay-waterkeeper/. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

The Great Bay estuary – often referred to as New Hampshire’s hidden coast – offers many opportunities for recreational and nature enthusiasts.  The subtle beauty of Great Bay is captivating, especially in early morning when the estuary is filled with the sounds of wildlife. So whether you enjoy kayaking, hiking, fishing, birding or nature photography, summer is the perfect time to explore the wonders of Great Bay.

Because of its shallow waters and strong tides, boating around the estuary gets tricky.  A safer way to explore its waters is by kayak and offers the best option for enjoying the bay’s diverse habitats. There are several easy water access points for car top boats which can be found here.

My favorite launch spot is Chapman’s Landing in Stratham on the Squamscott River (site 3 on map). From Chapman’s you can easily explore the vast salt marshes and tidal creeks found along the river or paddle all the way up to Exeter. Nesting osprey can be found down river from the boat ramp.

If you want to explore the Maine side of the estuary, I suggest putting in at the Salmon Falls River boat launch (site 15 on map). Serving as the border between NH and ME, paddling the Salmon Falls is like going back in time and you can easily imagine what attracted the early settlers to this area.

Only experienced kayakers should venture out into the middle of Great Bay and no matter where you go, always check the local tides. Or if you prefer to have a guided tour of the Portsmouth Harbor area, check out Portsmouth Kayak Adventures (they also offer rentals).

Anglers enjoy coming to the estuary to test their skill. You can visit the NH Fish and Game web site to learn more about the saltwater fishing regulations and to get your saltwater recreational fishing license (now required). Fishing for striped bass – or stripers – is especially popular.

If you prefer to hike the shorelines around the estuary, numerous land access points allow easy access to the vast conservation lands found throughout the estuary.  With over six miles of undeveloped shoreline, the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge offers numerous trails and wildlife viewing areas.

If you strive for solitude, the Cy and Bobbie Sweet Trail crosses over some of the beautiful conserved land in the Seacoast.  Over four miles long running from Longmarsh Road in Durham to Great Bay in Newmarket, the Sweet Trail leads hikers through a remarkable array of upland forests, freshwater wetlands and tidal salt marsh. This area – once slated for an oil refinery in the 1970’s –  includes several wildlife viewing stations along the trail and three designated parking areas to choose from.

Other popular hiking and birding areas include Adams Point in Durham and Sandy Point in Greenland.  Both of these sites are owned by NH Fish and Game and maintained by the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. On the Maine side of the estuary, I would suggest visiting Vaughan Woods State Park in South Berwick.

A listing of access points including maps to all of the conserved lands around Great Bay can be found at the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership website.  The Partnership is led by The Nature Conservancy and is actively protecting conservation lands throughout the estuary.

The Great Bay Research Reserve also operates the Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland, a great place for families to learn about the estuary. If modern technology is more your thing, ask for a copy of their Passport to Great Bay.  It provides information and directions to numerous conserved properties around Great Bay as well as coordinates to their popular geocache program.

Once you visit Great Bay, you cannot help but be inspired by its natural beauty.  Unfortunately, the health of Great Bay is in decline.  Please join me and others in protecting this national treasure.  Click here and support our efforts to clean up and save from harm the estuary for future generations.

– For more, visit: http://www.clf.org/great-bay-waterkeeper/. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

The recent Congressional hearing entitled “EPA Overreach and the Impact on New Hampshire Communities” accomplished one thing – it proved that to some, politics are more important than cleaning up the Great Bay estuary.

Congressmen Guinta (R-NH) and his colleague from California, Congressman Issa (who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform) came to Exeter on June 4 for one reason – to seek confirmation of what they already believed: that EPA is somehow engaging in “overzealous” regulation or “overreach” in taking action required by the Clean Water Act to reduce nitrogen pollution in Great Bay. The only invited speakers were four representatives of the Municipal Coalition – a small group of vocal municipalities doing everything in their power to delay EPA’s permitting process – and EPA Region 1 Administrator, Curt Spalding. Notwithstanding a packed room, the public was not allowed to speak.

Despite numerous claims by the Municipal Coalition that the science is flawed, not a single scientist was asked to testify about the real pollution threats to the Great Bay estuary. Instead we had a Congressman from California listening to a paid consultant from Washington, DC whose only apparent objective was to bash EPA.  Hardly a sound or non-biased approach to determine what action needs to be taken to save our estuary.

The mere title of the hearing made it clear that Congressmen Guinta and Issa had their minds made up before the hearing even began, and that they had one goal in mind – to undermine EPA’s approach to reducing nitrogen pollution in the estuary.  In fact, EPA is proceeding on sound science – based on years of analysis – and doing exactly what is required to restore and protect the estuary before it reaches a tipping point.

At a time when we need to be solving the serious pollution problems threatening the Great Bay estuary, it’s disturbing to see such a concerted effort to denounce the science that clearly documents the estuary’s continuing decline and the need for meaningful action. While other Great Bay communities are willing to move constructively toward solutions, it’s especially sad to see the small handful of communities comprising the Municipal Coalition resort to raw politics and attempt to capitalize on anti-environment, anti-EPA currents in D.C.

Rather than playing politics with the estuary in an effort to disrupt the permitting process, we would better served by Rep. Guinta if he helped communities secure funding to help with upgrades to wastewater treatment plants. Those sorts of solutions – not obfuscation – are what I expect from my government officials.  And we certainly don’t need someone from California telling us in New Hampshire how to clean up our waters.

In the end, the only real outcome from Monday’s hearing was another day wasted. EPA staff had to invest time defending themselves in a hostile and politically motivated environment rather than proceeding with real solutions required to restore and protect the Great Bay estuary.  Enough is enough. The time has come to take real action and support EPA in its efforts.

On Monday, June 4, Congressman Darrell Issa of California and Congressman Frank Guinta of New Hampshire are hosting a hearing in Exeter entitled “EPA Overreach and the Impact on New Hampshire Communities.”

Based on the title of the hearing, it appears Congressmen Issa and Guinta already have made up their minds, before the hearing even begins, that EPA is somehow ‘overreaching’ in its approach to reducing nitrogen pollution in the estuary. This is simply not the case. EPA is proceeding on sound science and doing exactly what is required to restore and protect the estuary before it’s too late. At a time when we need to be solving the serious pollution problems threatening the Great Bay estuary, it’s disturbing to see such a biased and overtly political response.

If you care about the future of the Great Bay estuary, I urge you to attend this politically motivated hearing. But don’t expect to be allowed to speak – only invited guests are given that right.  Would it surprise you to learn that four of the five invited speakers represent the Municipal Coalition, the very group of communities – Exeter, Newmarket, Dover, Rochester and Portsmouth – that have brought suit against the NH Department of Environmental Services and are doing everything in their power to delay action on cleaning up the Bay?  The sole person testifying on behalf of the EPA will be Region 1 Administrator Curt Spalding.  Not exactly a balanced panel.

In a prepared statement issued on Thursday, Rep. Guinta said that he’s concerned with “over-zealous regulation.”  We cannot escape the need for immediate action.  Further delays will only lead to more pollution, further degradation, and higher costs. The science continues to tell us that the health of the estuary is in decline and asking communities clean up their act is hardly over-zealous regulation.

I urge you to join at the hearing and silently voice your support for EPA and the need to take immediate action for a clean and healthy estuary. The hearing will be held at the Exeter Town Offices, 10 Front Street, beginning at 9 am. If you would like more information, please contact me to learn how you can help save Great Bay.

– For more, visit: http://www.clf.org/great-bay-waterkeeper/ You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter

I am pleased to announce the launch of our new e-newsletter – Great Bay Currents. As the Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper, my goal is to build a stronger public voice for protecting the Great Bay estuary and for meaningful and immediate actions to address the threats facing this remarkable natural treasure.

To accomplish this goal, I need your help.

The health of the Great Bay estuary is intractably linked to our quality of life on the Seacoast – in New Hampshire and southern Maine.  It’s key to our local economy, to the recreational opportunities we enjoy, and to the health of the marine environment. Unfortunately, the estuary is approaching a tipping point, and time is of the essence in solving the water pollution problems that threaten it.

I hope you’ll sign up for Great Bay Currents to keep informed, and that you’ll join me in the effort to save this critical resource. Help us build a stronger voice for the estuary. Encourage your friends to stay informed by forwarding them this message or sending them this link to sign up for Great Bay Currents.

If you would like to know how you can become more personally involved, please email me. The Great Bay estuary needs you, and I hope you, too, are inspired to make a difference.

For additional information about the Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper, visit us on our website or Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.