NH Watershed Protection and Restoration Forum

Country Pond Lake Association (CPLA) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit statements of qualification from contractors to provide deliverables requested in the project scope of work.

In partnership with the Town of Newton, CPLA seeks consulting services to design best management practices (BMPs) at the Newton Town Boat Launch Ramp to reduce stormwater runoff volume, along with measures to stabilize the ramp itself, to address erosion and transport of materials into Country Pond. The project addresses stormwater runoff, erosion, sedimentation, and nutrient loading at the gravel ramp. The goal of implementing the proposed BMPs is to reduce turbidity, phosphorus, and other nutrients within Country Pond, thereby helping to prevent water quality degradation.

Qualifications submittals are due September 16, 2022 by 5:00 PM following the submittal procedures described in the RFQ (see website link below to download the RFQ).

To download the RFQ and learn more about the project, please visit:    https://countrypondlakeassociation.org/newton-boat-ramp-project

Reminder: A Pre-proposal Consultation is REQUIRED for both 319 and 604(b) grants.  Call or email the project manager for your watershed to discuss your Pre-proposal by September 2, 2022.

NHDES’ Watershed Assistance Section has released the 2023 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 16, 2022.

Water Quality Planning 604(b) grants are available for water quality planning purposes. The 2023 Request for Letter of Intent (LOI) is now available. An approximate total award amount of $160,000 is available. All LOIs are due by 4 PM, September 16, 2022.

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

The New Hampshire Rivers Council (NHRC) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit statements of qualification from contractors to provide deliverables requested in the project scope of work. The project addresses stormwater runoff at a  project site within the Winnicut River watershed.

Stormwater flowing over impervious cover at the project site transports nutrients to the Winnicut River. The NHRC proposes design and installation of a raingarden at the project location to reduce amount of stormwater runoff and nutrients reaching the Winnicut River.

Qualifications submittals are due August 17, 2022 by 4:00 PM following the submittal procedures described in the RFQ (see website link below to download the RFQ).

To download the RFQ and learn more about the project, please visit: https://nhrivers.org/winnicut/

Using Fluvial Geomorphology to Improve Stream Restoration and Watershed Management 

The River Management Society and Field Geology Services are pleased to offer a short course entitled “Using Fluvial Geomorphology to Improve Stream Restoration and Watershed Management.” The course will be held online September 12-13, 2022 with optional one-day field trips near Portland, ME, on September 14, Gorham, NH, on September 15, and Amherst, MA, on September 16. This course covers the basic principles of fluvial geomorphology and their use in watershed assessments and designing stream restoration projects. A brief course description is found below with more information on the RMS website. Feel free to call Dr. Field at 207-491-9541 or e-mail jfield@field-geology.com for further information.

Registration discounts are available for registering early (prior to August 24), for attending multiple field trips, and for RMS members (and those that join during registration). Please call or email regarding additional discounts for students and groups of 5 or more. We look forward to seeing you in September! Please pass this announcement to others that you think might be interested in this course.

Course Description

This 2-day virtual short course with three days of optional in-person field trips 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 case studies from New England 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 field trips will be to 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.

Up to $65 million in funding is available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for fish passage projects that will remove in-stream barriers. This funding will support projects that reopen migratory pathways and restore access to healthy habitat for fish.

In collaboration with NOAA, selected partners will use these grant funds to implement locally-led removals of dams and other in-stream barriers to rebuild sustainable fisheries, contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species, enhance watershed health, and improve economic vitality.

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, non-profits, commercial (for profit) organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local, and Native American tribal governments.

Proposals must be received through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern time on August 15, 2022.

To apply, visit  https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/restoring-fish-passage-through-barrier-removal-grants

Not sure what to do this Monday night (May 16th) at 7:00 PM?

Come join the Upper Merrimack River Local Advisory Committee https://www.merrimackriver.org/ and hear from their guest speaker about the Stormwater Feasibility Study completed in 2020 for the City of Concord. David Cedarholm, City Engineer in Concord will present on the feasibility study and how a Stormwater Utility could serve as a funding mechanism for the current and future stormwater programs and stormwater issues facing the City of Concord.

Stormwater Utilities exist in 41 states across the U.S. including our neighboring states of Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts. Come learn about the benefits and challenges of establishing Stormwater Utilities in New Hampshire and see if Concord may be the first to establish such a utility in the state.

The presentation will begin promptly at 7:00 PM in the City-wide Community Center located at 14 Canterbury Road in Concord. I hope you will consider joining us for this compelling and interesting presentation and question and answer session.

You can check out the Concord Stormwater Feasibility Study here:  https://www.concordnh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15047/Concord-Stormwater-Utility-Feasibility-Study_Mar2020

Hope to see you there!