State of Our Estuaries Presentation: Great Bay and the Exeter-Squamscott River

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Job Announcement: National Estuarine Research Reserve Liaison

Lynker is seeking a management liaison to support the implementation of the NOAA programs in New England, specifically the National Estuarine Research Reserves and support the coordination of NOAA Office for Coastal Management work in the New England region. In support of the National Estuarine Research Reserves, the liaison will support the implementation of 3 national estuarine research reserves – Wells, Great Bay, and Narragansett Bay – approved by NOAA under the Coastal Zone Management Act, as well as support New England technical assistance related to the effective delivery of services to our partners, including those that build community and coastal resilience and promote nature-based solutions. The position can be located remotely, but must reside in the New England region (ME, NH, MA, RI, CT) with convenient travel to partners and events on the coast.

The successful candidate will serve as the liaison for three national estuarine research reserves and assist a team with coastal management service delivery in New England.

For more information, a job description, and details on how to apply, visit NERR liaison

Lynker is a growing, employee owned, small business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

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Field Geology Services is pleased to offer a fluvial geomorphology short course entitled “Using Fluvial Geomorphology to Improve Stream Restoration and Watershed Management”.

The three-day course will be held online November 6-8, 2023 with an optional one-day virtual field trip on November 9, 2023.  This course covers the basic principles of fluvial geomorphology and their use in watershed assessments and designing stream restoration projects.  The virtual field trip will be from the Chesapeake Bay region with additional virtual trip locations potentially developed 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 and pricing: https://rms.memberclicks.net/stream-restoration-course-2023

Feel free to call John Field at 207-491-9541 or e-mail jfield@field-geology.com for further information on registration or course content.  Registration discounts are available for registration prior to October 6th and for RMS members (and those that join during registration).  Please call or email regarding additional discounts for students and groups of 3 or more.  We look forward to seeing you in November!
 

Using Fluvial Geomorphology to Improve Stream Restoration and Watershed Management

This 3-day short course 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 capacity.  A number of examples and case studies from New England, Pacific Northwest, 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 that are 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 poorly understood. 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 restoration projects may be completed and to already completed stream restoration sites in order to illustrate the fluvial geomorphology concepts and stream restoration techniques discussed in the course.

The short course will consist of visual presentations, small group exercises, and hands-on 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, and others dealing with flooding, erosion, nutrient loading, and habitat issues along rivers and streams.

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Employment Opportunities at LWA

The Lake Winnipesaukee Association (LWA) is seeking highly motivated environmental and career minded individuals to join our Winni Blue team. As the leading nonprofit dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality of Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, the LWA leads the effort to counteract the threats and contaminants that stress the lake’s natural ecosystem, degrade its water quality and lower the economic value of the region.

Please share with anyone you know who may be interested in these opportunities!

Director of Outreach and Development

Director of Watershed Management and Restoration 

 

 

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Requests for Proposals – Lake Winnipesaukee Protection Initiative

The Lake Winnipesaukee Association (LWA) is seeking proposals from interested consulting firms to assist the organization in developing watershed-based plans for 3 of the lakes 10 subwatersheds.

For the past thirteen (13) years, the Lake Winnipesaukee Association (LWA) has led the effort to address the threats and contaminants that stress the lake’s natural ecosystem and degrade its water quality.  We have completed watershed and water quality analyses for 6 of the lake’s 10 subwatersheds, identifying over 270 sites that are contributing excessive nutrient loading to the lake.  In addition, as part of the watershed-based plan process, we have developed action plans that include specific remediation steps, expected efficacy, estimated costs and timelines.

Completing watershed-based plans for the remaining 3 subwatersheds of the lake will assist the communities in focusing their efforts by identifying sources of pollutants in the watershed that are contributing excessive nutrient loading to the lake.  In addition, updates to management plans completed over 10 years ago, will provide a whole lake understanding of the issues and better inform lake-wide management decisions to protect the lake’s water quality.

Complete RFP packages must be submitted via Dropbox and are due by close of business on October 16, 2023.

For complete details about the project and RFP submittal, please use the link below.

Request for Proposals – Lake Winnipesaukee Comprehensive Protection Initiative

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Request for Proposals Submittal Deadline Extended: Partridge Lake – Preparation for In-Lake Phosphorus Treatment

Submittal deadline extended to August 24, 2023, 4:00 PM. 

The Partridge Lake Property Owners Association (PLPOA) is soliciting Request for Qualifications (RFQ) responses from interested consulting firms to provide deliverables related to planning for in-lake treatment of Partridge Lake for the purpose of preventing cyanobacteria blooms.

Partridge Lake is a 99-acre waterbody located in the towns of Littleton and Lyman, New Hampshire. Partridge Lake is on the NHDES 2022 303(d) list as impaired for Primary Contact Recreation due to cyanobacteria blooms. According to the Partridge Lake Watershed Restoration Plan, 55 percent of the phosphorus in Partridge Lake is from internal sources (benthic sediments).

The PLPOA seeks a qualified consultant to evaluate in-lake management approaches and design a treatment plan to reduce nutrient loading to the lake from internal sources.

Completed RFQ packages are due to Tom Norris, PLPOA, on August 24, 2023, by 4:00 PM (thosnoss@gmail.com).  For additional details about the project and RFQ submittal, please see the RFQ document at the link below.

Partridge Lake 2023_RFQ_06_27_2023 REVISED 08_04_2023

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Director of Programs Opportunity with NH LAKES

NH LAKES is seeking a Director of Programs to lead our conservation outreach programs and play a collaborative role in implementing our public policy and advocacy program. This is an opportunity to join a dynamic organization as it continuously learns to boldly respond to the growing threats our lakes face.

To learn more about this opportunity, and how to apply, visit nhlakes.org/join-our-team

 

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Request for Qualifications: Partridge Lake – Preparation for In-Lake Phosphorus Treatment

The Partridge Lake Property Owners Association (PLPOA) is soliciting Request for Qualifications (RFQ) responses from interested consulting firms to provide deliverables related to planning for in-lake treatment of Partridge Lake for the purpose of preventing cyanobacteria blooms.

Partridge Lake is a 99-acre waterbody located in the towns of Littleton and Lyman, New Hampshire. Partridge Lake is on the NHDES 2022 303(d) list as impaired for Primary Contact Recreation due to cyanobacteria blooms. According to the Partridge Lake Watershed Restoration Plan, 55 percent of the phosphorus in Partridge Lake is from internal sources (benthic sediments).

The PLPOA seeks a qualified consultant to evaluate in-lake management approaches and design a treatment plan to reduce nutrient loading to the lake from internal sources.

Completed RFQ packages are due to Tom Norris, PLPOA, on July 31, 2023, by 4:00 PM (thosnoss@gmail.com).  For additional details about the project and RFQ submittal, please see the RFQ document at the link below.

Partridge Lake Request for Qualifications July 2023

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2024 Watershed Assistance Grants Available

The Watershed Assistance Section is proud to announce funding opportunities for Water Quality Implementation and Planning Grants.

Watershed Assistance Section 319 Grants

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 2024 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 PM, September 15, 2023.

For more information, contact: 

Funds for this grant are appropriated through the US 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 2024 Request for Letter of Intent (LOI) is now available. An approximate total award amount of $155,000 is available, of that, $25,000 will be prioritized for Designated River Corridor Management Plans. LOIs are due by 4 PM, September 15, 2023.

2024 Water Quality Planning 604(b) Letter of Intent   .pdf Icon

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:  Andrea Bejtlich (603) 271-8475 or andrea.l.bejtlich@des.nh.gov

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updates to the Cyano Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Program

NHDES is using a new bloom report form to track potential cyanobacteria activity. If you see a potential bloom, take pictures and submit it through the form (it will capture your location!). You can find the bloom report form by searching “NHDES HAB”, navigating to our page, and scrolling to the “See a bloom?” section.

If you’re interested in checking if a location has a cyanobacteria alert or advisory in place, check out our updated Healthy Swimming Mapper. There is also a widget to find the bloom report form on this link as well.

You can sign up for statewide weekly updates here, by selecting the “Healthy Swimming Updates” email list.

For questions contact:

Kate Langley Hastings, Cyanobacteria HAB Program Coordinator
Watershed Management Bureau, Water Division
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095
603-848-8094   kate.l.hastings@des.nh.gov
she/her

Current Cyanobacteria Advisories
Cyanobacteria History

General Cyanobacteria Information

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