Any perennial river or river segment in New Hampshire may be nominated for designation into the Rivers Management and Protection Program by any citizen or organization in the state. Sponsors must submit a nomination describing the river’s values and characteristics to the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). Each river nomination is evaluated to ensure that the river’s designation would be consistent with the purpose of RSA 483, the Rivers Management and Protection Act. The Commissioner then forwards the nomination to the state legislature as a bill. The bill, when passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, formally designates the river into the program. Each designated river is protected and managed to maintain and enhance instream river values such as water quality and flows.
Additional information about nominating a river is available on the NHDES website at the link below, or by contacting the Rivers and Lakes Programs Manager at 271-2959.