Supporting a Healthy Great Bay
Great Bay estuary and its watershed represent one of New Hampshire’s true ecological gems, recognized locally and nationally as a significant resource for people and nature. You are receiving this email because you are a partner in protecting and restoring this unique system, and we want to share some incredible news.
A generous donor has agreed to make a $12 million investment over the next five years that will boost efforts to promote clean water, accessible lands for recreation and education, habitat for fish and wildlife, climate resilience, and engaged communities that are committed to supporting the Great Bay estuary and its watershed.
This initiative is called Great Bay 2030, and the vision was developed and proposed by five partners –Conservation Law Foundation, Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, and the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership – that have been working collaboratively with the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation on shared goals for investment and action in Great Bay since 2015.
The goal of Great Bay 2030 is to bring more resources to address five focal areas where collaboration and investment can make a big difference for the future of the watershed. These include: Foster a Culture of Stewardship, Restore Critical Habitats, Enhance Water Quality and Quantity, Adapt to Climate Change, and Protect Priority Lands.
The people who are closest to the work already being done will best know the needs and emerging opportunities in these focal areas. To foster a network of invested partners, Great Bay 2030 will focus on building decentralized capacity to think strategically, work collaboratively, develop project ideas, and implement and evaluate projects. Please stay tuned this spring as we develop a process for putting these funds to use in a strategic and collaborative way. Please reach out if you have questions.
Thank you,
Tom Irwin, Conservation Law Foundation
Mark Zankel, The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire
Trevor Mattera, Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership
Cory Riley, Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Steve Couture, NH Department of Environmental Services