Community Projects Across the Watershed
Back in February, PREP announced the 2021 Piscataqua Region Environmental Planning Assessment (PREPA) Grant Program to assist communities in implementing the 2020 PREPA recommendations. This month, PREP is excited to announce 5 communities within the region were granted awards totaling nearly $45,000!
The communities and a summary of their projects are listed below. Projects range from increasing shoreland setbacks for buildings and septic systems, adopting the Southeast Watershed Alliance model stormwater management standards, development of a new coastal hazard overlay and updated floodplain management ordinance, updating the Wetlands Protection District ordinance and buffer requirements, and applying the 2020 NH Coastal Flood Risk Summary Part II: Guidance for Using Scientific Projections into local decision-making. Each of these projects will improve protections for water quality, build coastal resilience, and reduce inconsistencies in regulations across the region.
DOVER - Review and amend the Wetland Protection District to strengthen existing buffer standards and build consistency among all regulations with buffer requirements.
EPPING - Adopt updated stormwater management regulations using the Southeast Watershed Alliance Model Stormwater Standards.
HAMPTON - Conduct an audit of existing land use regulations and to present drafted amendments to the Planning Board that integrate the NH Coastal Flood Risk Summary, Part II: Guidance for Using Scientific Projections into local Site Plan Review and Subdivision Regulations.
KITTERY - Develop map(s) showing the extent of sea-level rise and storm surge within Kittery, use the maps to create a coastal hazard overlay zone, and draft associated floodplain development requirements and ordinance standards.
NEW DURHAM - Increase buffer and setback regulations on 1st through 4th order streams to 100 feet within the Water Quality Protection Overlay District, the Aquifer Overlay District, and the Open Space Conservation Subdivision.
The projects all address one or more of the recommended actions from the 2020 PREPA report published earlier this year. The recommended actions were designed to address gaps or inconsistencies in water quality and natural resource protections within the region and are tailored for each community based on the assessment questions. Community specific recommendations can be found by searching for each town’s individual page on the 2020 PREPA report home page.
The entire PREPA data set, town specific data, and subwatershed data are available for download on the PREPA homepage. Stay tuned for updates on the five projects over the next 18-months. Questions? Please email Abigail.Lyon@unh.edu