This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) to the university of new hampshire/prep

This $909,800 Project Grant, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456), will support the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in implementing the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) and strategic plan for the Piscataqua Region estuaries. The key activities include:

• Protecting and restoring habitats, including wetlands, through the Habitat Program
• Supporting water quality protection and restoration, including Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan implementation, monitoring and addressing toxics and pathogens, and implementing stormwater management and green infrastructure approaches through the Science and Community Engagement Programs
• Developing and implementing nutrient reduction strategies, conducting climate vulnerability assessments, and developing and implementing climate change adaptation strategies through the Science, Community Engagement, and Habitat Programs

The project will leverage existing efforts and focus on priorities that directly support the CCMP recommendations. UNH will issue sub-awards to the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire for land conservation initiatives and to the Seabrook-Hamptons Estuary Alliance for research and conservation efforts in the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary region.

The recipient will support implementation of the comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp) and strategic plan to improve water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses. The projects proposed for funding via the bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) will leverage existing efforts. Specifically, the recipient will this project, funded by BIL/IIJA, will improve the ecological functioning of the great BAY and hampton harbor/hampton BAY watersheds. These two watersheds comprise the study area of the piscataqua region estuaries partnership. Quoting from the workplan: during the third year of bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) funding, prep is looking to focus on work priorities that directly support recommendations in the comprehensive conservation management plan (ccmp). These include the priorities listed below: #8208; science program o statistical analysis o discrete research and monitoring projects #8208; community engagement program (CEP) o prepa implementation grants #8208; habitat program o eelgrass restoration o land conservation initiatives o hampton#8208; seabrook initiative objectives: * water resources goal 1 (WR1): water quality in the piscataqua region watersheds support shellfish harvesting, recreation, wildlife, aquatic life, and drinking water consistent with the clean water act, and existing high quality waters are maintained at 2010 conditions. * water resources goal 2 (WR2): quantities of freshwater in rivers and aquifers throughout the piscataqua region watersheds are appropriate for humans, aquatic species, riparian wildlife, and riparian vegetation. * living resources and habitat restoration goal (LR): ecological function, connectivity, resilience, biodiversity, and ecosystem services of habitats are maintained and restored throughout the piscataqua region watersheds. * land use and habitat protection goal 1 (LU1): development patterns and practices protect watershed and estuarine water quality and quantity. * land use and habitat protection goal 2 (LU2): ecosystem functions and services provided by tidal and freshwater wetlands, floodplains, and shorelands are maintained. * land use and habitat protection goal 3 (LU3): critical upland areas sustain viable plant and animal communities and provide watershed services to maintain aquatic habitats and water quality. * watershed stewardship goal (WS): legislative, resource management, and land use planning decisions and processes affecting the piscataqua region watersheds support piscataqua region comprehensive conservation and management plan goals and objectives. Activities:the activities include: quoting from the workplan: * protecting and restoring habitat, including wetlands - multiple activities from the habitat program * supporting water quality protection and restoration, including total maximum daily load plan implementation - multiple activities within the science program * monitoring and addressing toxics and pathogen loads and contamination - same as above * implementing stormwater management reducing non#8208; point source pollution impacts, and promoting the adoption of green infrastructure approaches - activities within the community engagement program * developing and implementing nutrient reduction strategies; conducting climate vulnerability assessments and developing and implementing climate change adaptation strategies and using adaptation tools to promote coastal resilience. - activities within science, community engagement and habitat programs subrecipient:* C2/piscataqua region environmental planning assessment (prepa) grant program to municipalities ($100,000) * C3/NH coastal adaptation workgr