REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Issued by the Town of Sutton for Watershed-based Plan Development for a Healthy Kezar Lake

The Town of Sutton, in cooperation with the Kezar Lake Protective Association (KLPA), is requesting Statements of Qualifications from interested Civil Engineers and/or Environmental Consultants to develop a Watershed-based Management Plan (WBP) for Kezar Lake that meets the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) requirements for nine-element (a-i) watershed management plan.

Link to full Request for Qualifications

Questions regarding this RFQ can be submitted to Lynn Wittman, President of the KLPA, at kezarlakepanh@gmail.com by October 23, 2024.

Representatives from the Towns of Sutton, the KLPA, and the NHDES will review qualification packages. The contract will be between the Town of Sutton and the consultant.

Statement of Qualifications are required to be submitted electronically and in hard copy no later than November 12, 2024 at 2pm:

  • Electronic copies of your Statement of Qualification should be emailed in PDF format with “Kezar Lake RFQ” in the subject line to the following:

Julia Jones, Sutton Town Administrator: townadmin@sutton-nh.org

Glenn Pogust, Sutton Selectboard Member: gpogust@outlook.com

Lynn Wittman, KLPA President: kezarlakepanh@gmail.com

  • Please also submit three (3) hardcopies to the Office of the Town Administrator at Sutton Town Hall, 93 Main St, Sutton, NH 03221. Include “Attention: Glenn Pogust” and “Kezar Lake Watershed RFQ” on the outside of the package/ envelope.
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NH LAKES is Hiring!

This fall, NH LAKES is looking forward to hiring a Conservation Program Coordinator to join our fun, collaborative, and hardworking team. Together, we inspire and help people live, do business, and govern in a lake-friendly way. Helping others do their part to ensure our lakes are clean and healthy today and into the future is meaningful work and is vitally important for our way of life, environment, and economy here in New Hampshire.

The Conservation Program Coordinator will lead the coordination of our aquatic invasive species education and spread prevention program–the Lake Host Program—and assist with coordinating our LakeSmart Lake-Friendly Living Program.

For the full position announcement and position description, visit nhlakes.org/join-our-team.

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Three-day Online Short Course: “Using Fluvial Geomorphology to Improve Stream Restoration and Watershed Management” with Dr. John Field. REGISTER TODAY!

Field Geology Services is pleased to offer a three-day online short course entitled “Using Fluvial Geomorphology to Improve Stream Restoration and Watershed Management” from November 18-20, 2024.  An optional virtual field trip is also being held on November 21, 2024.  This course covers the basic principles of fluvial geomorphology and their use in watershed assessments and the design of stream restoration projects.  The virtual field trip will be in the Chesapeake Bay region with additional locations potentially added based on the interests of course registrants.  The course is being organized and hosted by the River Management Society (RMS).  A brief course description is found below with more details available on the RMS website along with registration information, pricing, and additional course dates in 2025: https://rms.memberclicks.net/november-2024-fluvial-geomorphology.

Call Dr. John Field at 207-491-9541 or e-mail jfield@field-geology.com for further information on registration or course content.  An early registration discount is available prior to October 18th.  An additional discount is available for RMS members (and for those that join during registration).  Please call or email regarding additional discounts for students and groups of three or more.  Please pass this announcement on to others that might be interested.

Using Fluvial Geomorphology to Improve Stream Restoration and Watershed Management

This 3-day online short course (from 10am-5pm Eastern Time each day) with an optional virtual field trip will provide an overview of fluvial geomorphology with a thorough discussion of key concepts such as the principles of equilibrium, channel classification methods, channel evolution, and sediment transport continuity.  A number of examples and case studies from New England, the Pacific Northwest, the Chesapeake Bay region and elsewhere in the country will demonstrate how an understanding of fluvial geomorphology can be used in watershed assessments to identify the underlying causal mechanisms for erosion and flooding problems responsible for significant infrastructure damage and environmental degradation.  Additional case studies will be used to reveal common errors made in stream restoration projects when the basic principles of fluvial geomorphology are not taken into consideration. The course will conclude with a discussion of the appropriate settings and conditions within which to employ a variety of widely used stream restoration techniques.  The virtual field trip will visit degraded streams where future restoration projects may be completed and to already completed stream restoration sites in order to illustrate and reinforce the fluvial geomorphology concepts and stream restoration techniques discussed in the course.

The short course will consist of visual presentations, small group exercises, and activities that will provide participants with practical experiences and examples to recognize unstable channel reaches in a watershed and identify the most appropriate stream restoration techniques that will best address the identified instabilities, if present.  The course is designed for government officials, environmental and engineering consultants, construction contractors, non-profit watershed groups, educators, students, and others dealing with flooding, erosion, nutrient loading, and habitat issues along rivers and streams.

Posted in Announcements/Events, General, Other Funding Sources, Public Involvement/Outreach, Watershed Protection (High Quality Waters), Watershed Restoration (Impaired Waters), Watershed-based Plans | Comments Off on Three-day Online Short Course: “Using Fluvial Geomorphology to Improve Stream Restoration and Watershed Management” with Dr. John Field. REGISTER TODAY!

New Hampshire Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan- DRAFT released for review and comment

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is proud to announce the DRAFT 2025-2029 New Hampshire Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan. The Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Program Plan (Plan) presents the NHDES strategy for preventing, controlling, and reducing NPS pollution to protect and restore the quality of New Hampshire waters. The DRAFT 2025-2029 Plan covers the Nonpoint Source Management Program’s goals from October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2029, and updates and builds upon the 2020-2024 NPS Management Program Plan.

We invite you to review, comment, and provide feedback. All comments and suggested edits will be considered by NHDES prior to the submittal of the final Draft Plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Comments must be submitted in writing to Steve Landry, NPS Program Coordinator, via email at stephen.c.landry@des.nh.gov no later than August 28, 2024.

Once approved by EPA, the final 2025-2029 New Hampshire Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan will be posted to the NHDES website. The DRAFT 2025-2029 NPS Management Program Plan serves as a non-regulatory road map to guide NPS Management Program activities including outreach, planning and implementation projects. 

NHDES realizes that achieving the objectives, and milestones outlined in the NPS Plan relies upon the cooperation of many different programs, actions, and initiatives, working toward a common goal. The NPS Management Program Plan recognizes that NHDES must continue to work with its many partners on a watershed-by-watershed basis to improve, restore, and protect New Hampshire’s water resources. We look forward to continued collaboration with our extensive network of program partners in protecting, improving, and restoring the quality of waters throughout New Hampshire.

 As you review the DRAFT 2025-2029 Plan, please keep in mind that this is the New Hampshire Nonpoint Source Management Program workplan and we wrote this to be realistic and achievable within the 5-year time frame. The audience for this Plan is EPA, NHDES, partners identified within the Plan and grantees.

We appreciate your time and input! Please have any comments returned by August 28, 2024.

 Best,

Katie Zink, Andrea Bejtlich, and Steve Landry

 

 

 

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Watershed Assistance Section 319 Grants and Water Quality Planning 604(b) Grants

Responses for both grants are due by 4:00 PM, September 13, 2024.

Watershed Assistance Grants | NH Department of Environmental Services

Watershed Assistance Section 319 Grants

Solicitation for projects to address nonpoint source (NPS) pollution through the implementation of watershed-based plans.

Each year NHDES solicits projects to address nonpoint source (NPS) pollution through the implementation of watershed-based plans in priority watersheds. Projects must comprehensively address NPS problems and must have a quantitative way to assess progress and determine success. The watershed-based plan must have a clear water quality goal and include the nine, minimum elements (a) through (i) required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Funded projects must make reasonable progress toward achieving the water quality goal established in the watershed-based plan.

NHDES’ Watershed Assistance Section has released the 2025 Watershed Assistance Grants’ Pre-proposal request for proposals (RFP) to support local initiatives to restore impaired waters or protect high quality waters. Pre-proposals are due by 4:00 PM, September 13, 2024.

For more information, contact: 

Funds for this grant are appropriated through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

Water Quality Planning 604(b) Grants

Water Quality Planning 604(b) grants are available for water quality planning purposes. The 2025 Request for Letter of Intent (LOI) is now available. An approximate total award amount of $180,000 is available. All LOIs are due by 4:00 PM, September 13, 2024.

Section 604(b) of the EPA Clean Water Act requires funds to be allocated for conducting water quality planning, including:

  1. Identifying the most cost effective and locally acceptable facility and nonpoint source (NPS) measures to meet and maintain water quality standards.
  2. Developing an implementation plan to obtain state and local financial and regulatory commitments to implement water quality plans.
  3. Determining the nature, extent, and causes of water quality problems in the state.
  4. Determining those publicly owned treatment works which should be constructed, taking into account the relative degree of effluent reduction attained and the consideration of alternatives to such construction.

Other eligible projects that address the above water quality concerns may include but are not limited to: developing corridor management plans for designated rivers; conducting monitoring to address specific water quality concerns; planning stormwater retrofits to address water quality impairments; green infrastructure projects that manage wet weather to maintain or restore natural hydrology; working with municipalities committed to adopting specific model ordinances and/or meeting regulations (MS4 Permits) to address priority water quality planning concerns; and/or developing watershed-based plans in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria requiring nine key elements (a) through (i) for watershed-based plans.

For more information contact: 

 

 

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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Issued by the Town of Hollis, NH for Silver Lake Watershed Management Plan

The Town of Hollis is soliciting proposals from Qualified Environmental Professionals (QEPs) with proven expertise performing watershed planning to provide guidance for selected tasks related to the development of a watershed management plan for Silver Lake in Hollis, NH.

Link to RFQ: Silver Lake Watershed RFQ

A complete and timely submittal of all required documents is mandatory for the qualifications package to be considered. The deadline for receipt of RFQ proposals is August 14, 2024 (3:00 p.m. ET).

Questions must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. ET on July 24, 2024, and must have the subject line: “Silver Lake Watershed RFQ Question”. If you have a question, please follow this procedure to ensure the answers are consistent. Any information obtained by speaking one-on-one with a project partner is not considered an official response for the purposes of this process.

A Question-and-Answer Digest (Q & A Digest) version of all RFQ questions and answers will be emailed to everyone who submits a question. Additional persons wishing to receive the RFQ, Q & A Digest should request a copy via email by contacting Lori Radke at: administration@hollisnh.org (subject: “Silver Lake Watershed RFQ, Q & A Digest Request”). The Town shall distribute the Q & A Digest by August 7, 2024.

The Town of Hollis will not respond to telephone inquiries about the RFQ.

Electronic copies of your Statement of Qualifications should be emailed in PDF format and
received no later than Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. ET to Lori Radke at
administration@hollisnh.org. Include “Silver Lake Watershed RFQ” in the subject line.

Alternatively, if unable to submit electronically, two (2) hardcopies must be submitted by the closing date and time to the Town of Hollis, 7 Monument Square, Hollis, NH 03049, Attention: Lori Radke, and include “Silver Lake Watershed RFQ” on the outside of the package/envelope.

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Request for Qualifications: Milton Three Ponds Watershed Plan Development

Strafford Regional Planning Commission is soliciting proposals from Qualified Environmental Professionals (QEPs) with proven expertise performing watershed planning to provide guidance for selected tasks related to the development of a watershed management plan for Milton Three Ponds.

The partnership formed to lead this project comprises a diverse group, with a wide range of relevant backgrounds and skills, and who are committed to performing much of the required work themselves; however, completion of a select subset of watershed analyses and planning tasks require services of a QEP working collaboratively with the project partners.

Submissions are due by 5:00 PM, Monday, June 17, 2024. Complete submittals should be sent by email in digital format (PDF or Microsoft Word) to Lisa Murphy, SRPC Senior Regional Planner, at lmurphy@Strafford.org with subject line: Milton Three Ponds RFQ. A complete and timely submittal as described in this RFQ is required in order to be considered.

Link to RFQ: Milton Three Ponds RFQ

This project is funded through a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Great Bay 2030 Initiative.

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Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap- EPA Offers Free Technical Assistance

Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap, that could benefit communities in Vermont and New Hampshire (including manufactured home communities) that are struggling with failing septic systems, or inadequate wastewater infrastructure. The program isn’t construction money, but free technical assistance to help communities achieve their goals of access to safe sanitation.

Originally launched as a pilot in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the initiative partners with EPA contractors and/or local technical assistance providers to help underserved communities access federal wastewater infrastructure funding. The pilot initiative has been assisting 11 communities since 2022 and will now serve an additional 150 communities. The program is supported by funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

EPA is conducting outreach to various organizations to raise awareness of the program and get help identifying communities that might be interested in receiving free technical assistance. We haven’t had any communities sign up in Vermont or New Hampshire yet. If you know of communities that would qualify based on the criteria below, we encourage you to direct them to the WaterTA Request Form (4 min form), where a community representative or member can request no-cost technical assistance.

Who Can Qualify? If any of these conditions apply, assistance may be available. Communities – including homeowners and utilities – and all states, Tribes, and territories can request no-cost technical assistance.

  • Do septic systems back up into homes or cause sewage to pool in yards?
  • Does the town struggle to provide adequate sanitation services to their residents?
  • Does the community struggle to rebuild wastewater and septic systems damaged by natural disasters?

Examples of technical assistance provided through the Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Program:

  • Conduct an assessment of the community’s wastewater needs.
  • Evaluate the feasibility and costs of wastewater solutions, including performing a rate study.
  • Identify various funding options (federal, state, and other), such as grants and financing.
  • Help with completing the preliminary engineering and paperwork requirements for funding applications.
  • Assist community with establishing an ordinance for wastewater management.

For questions, email SepticHelp@epa.gov

Communities will be selected on a rolling basis; there is no deadline to apply. Language translation services may be available; please reach out directly with your needs.   

 Important Links:

EPA Press Release: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-expands-epa-program-bring-wastewater-services-150-more

The latest webpage with information regarding the types of technical assistance available, how to apply, Solutions Plans from the pilot communities, fact sheets, and other pertinent information can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/water-infrastructure/closing-americas-wastewater-access-gap

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. FYI, we also plan to reach out to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, and the VT RPCs to pass along this information as well. If you have any other ideas on how to spread the word to NH Planning Commissions or other pertinent organizations, please let me know. I would hate for any communities to miss out!

This message was originally sent from:

Michael A. Mezzacapo | he/him/his
Office of Wastewater Management | Sustainable Communities and Infrastructure Branch
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: 802-276-0076
Email: Mezzacapo.Michael@epa.gov

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Requesting Applications for 2024 New Hampshire Coastal Resilience Grant Projects

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Coastal Program is requesting 2024 Coastal Resilience Grant (CRG) applications for projects. For the purposes of the CRG funding opportunity, coastal resilience is the capacity of a coastal community or coastal system to adapt in a changing climate—not only measured by the capacity to “bounce back” quickly from shocks and stresses like storms, but also, and perhaps more importantly, measured by the capacity to “leap forward” by fostering sustained and equitable achievement of community goals and ensuring the social, economic, environmental, and cultural wellbeing of all peoples and habitats over the long-term.

The CRG funding opportunity supports projects that build capacity, advance planning, and develop designs to increase coastal resilience, with specific focus on community and/or habitat resilience. Projects must take place in one or more of New Hampshire’s Coastal Zone communities which include Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Madbury, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rollinsford, Rye, Seabrook, and Stratham. Eligible applicants include coastal municipalities, quasi-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and state agencies.

Approximately $100,000 in CRG funding is available. Applicants must request a minimum of $9,000 and no more than $30,000 per project. Funds are made available to the NHDES Coastal Program through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management, under the Coastal Zone Management Act.

For instructions, evaluation criteria, and to access the Application Form, visit the CRG website. Applications must be submitted using the NHDES Application Form no later than 4:00 pm EDT on Friday, May 31, 2024. An informational webinar about the CRG funding opportunity will take place on Monday, April 29, 2023 at 10:00 AM EDT. You can register for the webinar at this link. A recording of the webinar will be made available on the CRG website.

This funding opportunity marks the eighth time that the NHDES Coastal Program has offered competitive grant funds for coastal resilience projects. Since 2014, 25 projects have been funded throughout NH coastal communities totaling $1,069,747 in federal grant funds and $498,730 in match commitment from grantees. Projects previously funded by the CRG opportunity are summarized on the CRG website.

Questions about the 2024 CRG request for applications are welcome. Please contact NHDES Coastal Program Resilience Coordinator Kirsten Howard at (603) 559-0020 or kirsten.b.howard@des.nh.gov with any questions. Questions must be received by 4:00 PM EDT on Friday, May 24, 2024 and all questions and responses will be made publicly available at the CRG website. Additionally, you may sign up for office hours to discuss project ideas, answer questions, and workshop applications. Office hours will take place with NHDES Coastal Program staff and will be held Thursday, April 25; Wednesday, May 15; and Tuesday, May 28 from 1-3PM EDT. You can sign up for office hours at this link or by emailing Kirsten Howard at kirsten.b.howard@des.nh.gov.

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2024 PRE‐APPLICATION INVITATION NH CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND LOAN PROGRAM

NHDES is now accepting Pre‐applications for the 2024 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source projects. CWSRF funding is available for water pollution control, watershed protection and restoration, and estuary management projects that contribute to the protection of public health, water quality and the environment.

An increase in CWSRF appropriations was made available over a five-year period with the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in 2022. BIL includes the CWSRF base capitalization grant, as well as capitalization grant with supplemental funding, and funds for addressing emerging contaminants.

Deadline for CWSRF pre‐applications: Friday, May 31, 2024.

The 2024 CWSRF Pre-Application is available as an electronic form. The form has been updated to align with the 2024 Ranking Criteria.

New this year, CWSRF Pre-Applications must be signed by a representative from the municipality proposing the project.  For consultants who prepare pre-applications on behalf of their clients, when planning 2024 pre-application submissions, please make sure you allow enough time to incorporate this additional action.

The system requires users to create a self-registered nForm account. The account will allow you, as a user, to save an incomplete form and return to edit it later, share forms and have continued electronic access to the forms after submittal.  Register for an account and access the CWSRF Pre-Application at: Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Pre-Application.

The CWSRF 2024 Ranking Criteria documents are essential to completing pre-applications. Ranking criteria apply to planning and/or infrastructure projects for both wastewater and stormwater:

2024 Ranking Criteria for Wastewater Planning and Infrastructure Projects

2024 Ranking Criteria for Stormwater Planning and Infrastructure Projects

It is important that the pre­application is completed in its entirety, including all supplemental attachments, to ensure the project is accurately scored.

ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY

NH CWSRF plans to offer additional subsidy for projects funded from the 2024 CWSRF PPL in the form of loan principal forgiveness. Principal forgiveness awards are generally a percentage of loan disbursements at the time of the initial principal and interest repayment. Principal forgiveness is available based on affordability score and other special initiatives described below.

Affordability:

The increased funding comes with an increase in the amount of additional subsidy available to NH communities. Once 2024 pre‐applications and all 2023 loan applications are received, NHDES will be able to determine the principal forgiveness available for 2024 projects. This process includes consideration of the number and dollar amount of pre‐applications from the various communities in NH.

NH CWSRF plans to continue offering the following incentives:

Planning, 100% up to $100,000:

NH CWSRF plans to award 100% principal forgiveness, up to $100,000, for wastewater and/or stormwater planning evaluations. Submit CWSRF Pre-applications to be considered for any available funding in this category.

For more information please reference:

CWSRF Wastewater Planning Guidance Document

CWSRF Stormwater Planning Guidance Document.

Asset Management, 100% up to $30,000:

NH CWSRF will award 100% principal forgiveness, or grant up to $30,000, for wastewater and/or stormwater asset management projects. Submit CWSRF Pre-applications to be considered for any available funding in this category.

Please reference the CWSRF Asset Management Guidance Document.

Comprehensive Energy Audit Measure Implementation, 50% up to $250,000:

NH CWSRF plans to award 50% principal forgiveness, up to $250,000, on disbursements for project components that implement recommendations from comprehensive energy audits. Up to $500,000 in energy audit implementation project expenditures may be approved for 50% principal forgiveness. Submit CWSRF Pre-applications to be considered for any available funding in this category.

Loan recipients must apply for electric and gas utility incentives to qualify for the NH CWSRF principal forgiveness. CWSRF principal forgiveness will be calculated on the total project cost (prior to incentives from the electric or gas utility). CWSRF principal forgiveness may be reduced if the combination of the two incentives brings the cost of the project to the loan recipient to less than $0.

Projects for renewable energy (i.e. solar arrays) are only eligible once all energy efficiency recommendations are implemented from the respective comprehensive energy audit.  The energy efficiency measures can be accomplished independently, prior to submitting an application for a renewable energy project, or concurrently on one combined energy efficiency/renewable energy project.

Emerging Contaminants 100% Additional Subsidy/Principal Forgiveness:

NH CWSRF is applying for the 2024 Capitalization Grant to address emerging contaminants. Currently, NHDES intends to focus on PFAS and utilize these funds for loans with principal forgiveness for treatment of landfill leachate from municipally owned landfills that discharge to a municipal wastewater treatment plant. NHDES is also interested in projects that evaluate and demonstrate regional or state-wide solutions to reduce or eliminate PFAS in wastewater residuals.

REMINDERS:

PLEASE JOIN US April 9th-12th for the 2024 Water Infrastructure Funding Workshop.

SAVE THE DATE August 1, 2024, Water Infrastructure Programs Annual Public Hearing

Please contact Kathie Bourret (Kathleen.Bourret@des.nh.gov or 603-271-2902) or Beth Malcolm (Beth.Malcolm@des.nh.gov or 603-271-2978) with any questions.

For more information please visit our webpage: Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

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