Great Bay

A Rich and Diverse Ecosystem Full of Life

Great Bay Estuary (click to enlarge).

The Great Bay estuary is a unique tidal system comprised of two large inland bays – Great Bay and Little Bay – and the Piscataqua River. The Estuary receives freshwater from numerous rivers – the Salmon Falls, Cocheco, Oyster, Bellamy, Lamprey, Squamscott and Winnicut – draining a 930 square-mile watershed spanning thirty-nine communities in New Hampshire, and ten in Maine. The Piscataqua River, with some of the strongest tidal currents in North America, delivers ocean waters from the Gulf of Maine into the estuary, and provides an essential link between the sea and inland waters for numerous migratory fish.

The Great Bay estuary’s unique ecosystem supports a rich diversity of habitat, including eelgrass meadows, salt marshes, oyster beds, mudflats and rocky intertidal zones. These places provide food and shelter for a wide variety of fish species – including Atlantic cod, striped bass, Atlantic salmon, and Atlantic herring (to name a few) – as well as a multitude of birds,  including a variety of raptors, seabirds, wading birds, shorebirds and waterfowl.

A Cultural and Recreational Asset

The Great Bay estuary is deeply engrained in the cultural fabric of New Hampshire’s Seacoast. Its oyster beds, fish, and waterways helped shape the history and character of communities from Portsmouth to Dover, New Castle to Exeter.

The estuary also provides tremendous and inspiring recreational opportunities. Whether sailing, kayaking, digging oysters, fishing stripers, or hiking through the Great Bay National Estuarine Reserve, it provides a special and unique opportunity for residents and tourists alike to connect with the region’s rich natural heritage.