Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance…

This $1,700,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456) supports the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in implementing the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the Piscataqua Region Estuary. Key activities include assessing trends in water quality, habitats, and natural resources; coordinating CCMP implementation with partners; and monitoring the effectiveness of CCMP activities. The award also provides $15,000 to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) for nonpoint source management efforts in the Piscataqua River watershed, and $16,163 to Plymouth State University for horseshoe crab monitoring. Expected outcomes include increased coordination around research and monitoring, improved ecosystem health, and increased abundance of oyster resources in the Great Bay Estuary. The award period is from October 1, 2024 to December 30, 2026.

Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance that are threatened by pollution, development, or overuse. The agreement provides funding to the university of NH's piscataqua region estuary partnership for national estuary program (NEP) to support implementation of the NEP comprehensive conservation and management plan (CCMP) and EPA strategic plan goal 5: ensure clean and safe water for all communities and objective 5.2: - protect and restore waterbodies and watersheds to improve the water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses in the estuary. Activities:the projects included will support activities that address the key challenges facing the estuary including assessing trends in water quality, habitats, natural resources and uses; coordinating implementation of the CCMP by the NEP, along with the state, federal, local agencies, stakeholders, ngos, citizens, partners, and others; and monitoring the effectiveness of activities conducted under the management conference approved CCMP and annual workplan. Overall, the proposed budget reflects the following strategies: - prioritizes filling research, monitoring, data, and synthesis to ensure continued capacity when the BIL funding is gone. - prioritizes moving money to support communities trying to implement pollution prevention and restoration activities. - emphasizes two integrative strategies: O climate change: issues related to climate change (e.g., adaptation, mitigation, etc.) are emphasized and are especially noted in the community engagement program section. O JUSTICE40: in accordance with executive order 14008 (the 'JUSTICE40 initiative'), prep will endeavor to reach the goal of targeting at least 40% of federal funding in the piscataqua region to 'disadvantaged communities. Please note that the goal of 40% is for the entire national estuary program, recognizing that some parts of the country will not be able to HIT that number due to socioeconomic realities. Prep staff have developed a strategy that is appropriate for our region and reflects similar approaches from nearby programs such as casco BAY NEP (me) and buzzards BAY NEP (MA). Nhdes will provide technical assistance and project management for the development of a watershed-based plan for milton three ponds nhdes will support and provide project management for the regional clean sweep initiative which is working to evaluate the potential for inter#8208; municipal street sweeping activities in the coastal region. Subrecipient:* nhdes will receive $15,000 for nonpoint source management efforts in the piscataqua river watershed. * plymouth state university will receive $16,163 for horseshoe crab monitoring. Outcomes:anticipated deliverables include: - collaborate with nhdes on nonpoint source management efforts in the piscataqua river watershed. - selection, development and supervise completion of monitoring work. - assessment and characterization E rates of oyster disease in the great BAY estuary. - integrated research monitoring plan by december 2025, including conceptual models. Expected outcomes include: - increased coordination around research and monitoring. - improved ecosystem health - increased abundance of oyster resources in great BAY estuary. Intended beneficiaries include all residents and visitors to the great BAY and hampton harbor estuaries and watersheds, now and into the foreseeable future. This includes new hampshire, maine, and a small part of massachusetts.