CONCORD The New Hampshire Division of Environmental Companies Watershed Help Part has awarded seven Watershed Help Grants for watershed safety and restoration tasks totaling $510,000.
Watershed Help Grants (WAG) concentrate on the prevention and discount of non-point supply (NPS) air pollution. NPS air pollution happens when precipitation, snowmelt, or irrigation water strikes by means of the bottom or throughout land and transports pollution to rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Funding for this system is supplied by means of Clear Water Act Part 319 funds from the US Environmental Safety Company. Proposals acquired for Watershed Help Grants are ranked primarily based on standards together with: bettering or defending water high quality; value/profit ratio; native capability to finish the venture; relative worth or significance of the physique of water; precedence rating within the NHDES Nonpoint Supply Administration Plan; and the final high quality and thoroughness of the proposal.
Annually, the Watershed Help Grant program solicits functions for tasks that can do essential work to cut back NPS in states’ watersheds. The grant choice course of is often very aggressive with quite a few proposals submitted for worthy tasks. Eligible candidates are inspired to submit their venture proposals in the course of the annual proposal interval. The next tasks have been chosen in 2022 primarily based on the outcomes of the rating course of and out there federal grant funding ranges.
Undertaking data
Nature Conservancy: Oyster River-Caldwell Brook, Emerald Acres Culvert Substitute, Section II, Passage for Aquatic Organisms/Geomorphic Compatibility/Water High quality, $125,000
This venture will restore aquatic passage and geomorphic compatibility at Topaz Drive’s crossing of the Oyster River in Barrington. The present culvert shall be changed with a 30-foot bridge. The venture will lead to 5.2 miles of absolutely reconnected upstream habitat, ameliorating dissolved oxygen impairment upstream of the culvert, and lowering flood danger.
Nation Pond Lake Affiliation: Nation Pond Watershed Administration Plan Implementation Section 1: Direct Drainage Space Newton Boat Ramp and Concannon Highway BMPs, $15,000
Nation Pond is on the state’s impaired water checklist for major contact recreation (swimming) as a consequence of frequent cyanobacteria. The first reason for algal blooms in Nation Pond is excessive phosphorus ranges attributable to improvement across the lake and extra stormwater runoff. This venture will enable the Nation Pond Lake Affiliation to implement two Greatest Administration Practices (BMPs) on the Newton City Boat Ramp and on Concannon Highway to divert and infiltrate stormwater runoff.
Winnisquam Watershed Community: Winnisquam Watershed Primarily based Plan Implementation Section 1: Demonstration BMPs Demonstration BMPs at Gale Ave Park, Deer Park and Kaulback Highway, $125,000
This grant will enable the Winnisquam Watershed Community (WWN) to design and set up structural BMPs at three websites that discharge extra sediment and vitamins into Lake Winnisquam. Undertaking websites embrace Gale Ave Park, Laconia; Deer Park Affiliation Seashore, Meredith; and Kaulback Highway, Sanbornton. WWN will work with the Metropolis of Laconia, the Deer Park Affiliation and town of Sanbornton to handle stormwater runoff, erosion and drainage at every website.
Lake Winnipesaukee Affiliation: Moultonborough Bay and Winter Harbor Watershed Administration Plan Implementation Section 1: Melvin River BMPs, Northwood Rd. BMP and Winter Harbor BMP Designs, $110,000
Nutrient loadings to Lake Winnipesaukee are above 300% pure background ranges, which has resulted within the lake being listed on the NHDES 303(d) checklist as impaired to be used by aquatic organisms. A direct correlation exists between elevated ranges of vitamins within the lake and aquatic vegetation and algae progress and cyanobacteria. This venture will implement BMPs at three precedence places within the Moultonborough Bay watershed to cut back sediment and nutrient loading. This venture contains conceptual designs for culverts alongside Whitegate Highway, Wolfeboro and set up of bioswales and rain gardens to cut back stormwater runoff.
Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance: Implementation of the Pine River Pond Watershed Safety Plan Section 1: BMPs for properties and roads, septic system alternative, outreach, $75,000
In 2019, Pine River Pond started experiencing blooms of benthic cyanobacterial mats spreading on the rocky and sandy substrates in a number of shallow areas. Via this venture, BMPs shall be put in on non-public camp roads and residential properties across the pond to get rid of sources of stormwater runoff and sediment contamination. This venture additionally features a septic system cost-share alternative program for lake residents to assist householders with septic development prices. This program prioritizes replacements which have the best impression on pond high quality by lowering nutrient loading. BMPs and new septic programs will lower nutrient loading in Pine River Pond. By stopping important will increase in nutrient loading, Pine River Pond will expertise improved water high quality and change into extra resilient to different elements that put stress on the ecosystem.
New Hampshire Rivers Council: Winnicut River Watershed Restoration and Administration Plan: Greenland Central Faculty Multidisciplinary Implementation (Section I), $15,000
The Winnicut River is one among seven main tributaries of Nice Bay. The Winnicut River and a number of other of its tributaries have deteriorated as a consequence of low ranges of dissolved oxygen and elevated ranges of E.coli. The water high quality and habitat of the Winnicut River and a number of other of its tributaries have been degraded by elevated non-point supply (NPS) air pollution because of speedy land improvement within the watershed over the previous 20 years. This venture will set up a 400 sq. meter rain backyard at Greenland Central Faculty to infiltrate runoff from the car parking zone. The venture described will scale back the load of phosphorus and nitrogen pollution within the Winnicut River and Nice Bay.
Metropolis of Exeter: Squamscott/Exeter River, Water Integration for Squamscott-Exeter (WISE) Built-in Plan: Stormwater Designs, Superior Septic System and Fertilizer Discount, Exeter, New Hampshire, $45,000
The Exeter-Squamscott River is a significant tributary of Nice Bay. The Nice Bay watershed has skilled inhabitants progress and a rise in improvement that has threatened the water high quality and well being of the Nice Bay. The venture will establish places and develop designs for structural finest administration practices (BMPs) within the metropolis to regulate stormwater runoff and scale back nitrogen loading, develop a septic system program to establish preferrred websites for max nitrogen discount, conduct public training and resident outreach, and discover monetary incentives to help non-public property house owners with the implementation of a sophisticated septic system aimed toward nitrogen discount; and develop a manure discount program to coach stakeholders on the efficient and environment friendly use of manure, BMPs, and the impression manure has on the Squamscott River and finally the Nice Bay.
For extra details about NHDES Watershed Help Grants, go to the Watershed Help webpage or contact NHDES Watershed Help Part Supervisor, Steve Landry, at stephen.c.landry@des.nh.gov or 603-271-2969.
