The Great Bay-Piscataqua Estuary is an incredible place. It’s home to numerous fish and bird species and provides spectacular fishing, boating, and recreation for the people of New Hampshire, Maine, and beyond. But persistent high levels of nitrogen pollution have disrupted these waters, and while progress is being made, some municipal officials are fighting against the changes that can save Great Bay.
May 10
2018
2018
Jul 25
2016
2016
Can Eelgrass Help in the Fight Against Climate Change?
When showing visitors around the Great Bay estuary in CLF’s Great Bay–Piscataqua Waterkeeper vessel, it can be challenging to drum up enthusiasm for eelgrass. This unique type of seagrass resides beneath the surface of the water and is hard to see. But this amazing organism plays a major role in the health of the estuary’s…
Jun 28
2016
2016
Great Bay–Piscataqua Waterkeeper Vessel Launched for 2016!
The Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper vessel is back on the water for its third season. Following our launch earlier this month, the weather did not cooperate until last week. Interest is keen from folks who want to climb aboard and explore Great Bay and the Piscataqua River to identify and discuss the challenges facing our local…
Oct 31
2013
2013
Can Great Bay Oysters be Saved for a Healthier Estuary?
In a recent blog, I discussed our work to clean up toxic stormwater pollution from the massive scrap metal facility on the banks of the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth. One important outcome of our work was to secure funding from the operator of that facility, through EPA, for an oyster and eelgrass restoration project in…
Apr 23
2013
2013
Golfing Green on the Seacoast
At the Sagamore-Hampton Golf Club in North Hampton, maintaining grass is a science. And that’s a very good thing. Did you know there are six golf courses in just the Winnicut River watershed alone? And that’s just one small portion of the estuary. It should come as no surprise that fertilizer is considered one of…
Feb 26
2013
2013
Newmarket Continues on Path to a Cleaner Estuary
Like many other communities in the Seacoast, Newmarket is faced with an aging and outdated sewage treatment plant. As the health of the Great Bay estuary continues to decline, the town is committed to being part of the solution. Fortunately, Newmarket – along with Exeter – has decided the best way to move forward is…
Oct 17
2012
2012
A Campaign of Delay – Jeopardizing the Health of Great Bay
Officials from Portsmouth, Dover and Rochester – in their continuing campaign to delay critically important pollution reductions in the Great Bay estuary – have put the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on notice that they intend to file suit over the nitrogen discharge levels being proposed in their wastewater treatment permits. As part of this campaign…
Jul 31
2012
2012
Green Slime or Clean Water: What’s the Future of Great Bay?
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.
Jul 18
2012
2012
Lawn Tips for a Healthy Great Bay
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…
Apr 18
2012
2012
CLF Motion to Protect Great Bay from the Municipal Coalition
Last week, I discussed how the municipalities that comprise the so-called Great Bay Municipal Coalition took the unfortunate step of filing a lawsuit against the N.H. Department of Environmental Services, challenging its analysis of nitrogen pollution in the estuary. In an effort to prevent delays in solving Great Bay’s pollution problems, late last week CLF…