Piscataqua Region Environmental Planning Assessment
The Piscataqua Region Environmental Planning Assessment (PREPA) provides an analysis of regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to resource management in the 52 municipalities in the Piscataqua Region watershed.
Data presented below and on each of the municipal pages was collected during the spring/summer of 2020 with staff support from Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission, Rockingham Planning Commission, Strafford Regional Planning Commission, and Southern NH Regional Planning Commission. To gather information, we reviewed Municipal Master/Comprehensive Plans, zoning ordinances, subdivision and site plan review regulations, natural hazard mitigation plans, open space plans, natural resource inventories, and climate change vulnerability assessments. Data will be updated periodically.
If you'd like to update data for your municipality, contact Abigail Lyon, Community Technical Assistance Program Manager, at Abigail.Lyon@unh.edu.
Explore the data by municipality
New for the 2020 Assessment - All data collected can be downloaded for each of the 52 municipalities in the Piscataqua Region watershed. Click the button to the left to select your municipality. Each community page includes an Excel spreadsheet with community-specific data, excel spreadsheets with data for the corresponding sub-watersheds, and community-specific actions for better protection of water quality and natural resources, as well as enhanced community resilience.
Explore the data for the Piscataqua Region watershed
Shoreland Protection
Adopting and enforcing setbacks for all building, septic systems, and fertilizer application from all ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, and coastlines is critical to protecting the long-term water quality of the Piscataqua Region's surface waters. Explore the "Shoreland Protection" data to learn more about setback and buffer protections across the watershed.
54% of municipalities in the Piscataqua Region watershed have no regulations restricting the disturbance of vegetated buffers along 1st-3rd order streams, 56% for 2nd order streams, and 48% for 4th order streams, lakes, and great ponds.
- 1st order streams
- 2nd order streams
- 3rd order streams
- 4th order streams
- Lakes
- Tidal Waters
PREP recommends buffers of 100 feet to protect water quality and recognizes that when larger buffer width are not feasible, even a 50 foot buffer provides environmental benefit (Buffer Options for the Bay).
84% of municipalities require septic setbacks from waterbodies.
37% of municipalities require septic systems be setback at least 100 feet from waterbodies.
- 1st order streams
- 2nd order streams
- 3rd order streams
- 4th order streams
- Lakes
- Tidal Waters
PREP recommends setbacks of 100 feet, where possible, for 1st-4th order streams, lakes, and ponds to support water quality (Buffer Options for the Bay).
79% of municipalities require setbacks for primary structures from waterbodies. 21% of municipalities have primary structure setbacks of 100 feet along 1st-3rd order streams, 25% have primary building setbacks of 100 feet along 4th order streams, and 33% have primary building setbacks of 100 feet along lakes and great ponds.
- 1st order streams
- 2nd order streams
- 3rd order streams
- 4th order streams
- Lakes
- Tidal Waters
PREP recommends setbacks of 100 feet, where possible, for 1st-4th order streams, lakes, and ponds to support water quality (Buffer Options for the Bay).
21% of municipalities in the watershed have adopted regulations restricting the application of fertilizers adjacent to 1st-4th order streams, lakes, and ponds, and only 3 of these communities require a buffer of 100 feet or greater.
79% of municipalities have no regulations restricting or preventing the application of fertilizer along shorelands.
- 1st order streams
- 2nd order streams
- 3rd order streams
- 4th order streams
- Lakes
- Tidal Waters
PREP recommends setbacks of 100 feet, where possible, for 1st-4th order streams, lakes, and ponds to support water quality (Buffer Options for the Bay).
Download all 2020 PREPA data for the Piscataqua Region watershed
Freshwater Wetlands
Adopting and enforcing buffers of vegetated, undisturbed land surrounding freshwater wetlands protects waterbodies from pollution and degradation by allowing wetlands to continue to filter pollutants and sediment, provide flood storage, and habitat for wildlife. Explore the "Freshwater Wetlands" data to learn more about buffer protections across the watershed.
Municipalities offer explicit protections for vernal pools: 48% yes; 52% no
44% of municipalities in the Piscataqua Region watershed have no regulations restricting the disturbance of vegetated buffers along wetlands.
- Soil Minimum Buffer Width
- Vegetation Minimum Buffer Width
- Vegetation Buffer - Tidal Waters
PREP recommends buffers of 100 feet to protect water quality and recognizes that when larger buffer width are not feasible, even a 50 foot buffer provides environmental benefit (Buffer Options for the Bay).
88% of municipalities have septic setbacks but only 10 of those municipalities require setbacks of 100 feet along wetlands.
PREP recommends setbacks of 100 feet, where possible, for wetlands to support water quality (Buffer Options for the Bay).
92% of municipalities have primary building setbacks but only 15 municipalities require setbacks of 100 feet along wetlands.
88% of municipalities have secondary building setbacks but only 12 municipalities require setbacks of 100 feet along wetlands.
- Primary Structure Setback
- Secondary Structure Setback
PREP recommends setbacks of 100 feet, where possible, for wetlands to support water quality (Buffer Options for the Bay).
28% of municipalities in the watershed have adopted regulations restricting the application of fertilizers adjacent to waterbodies, and only 3 of these communities require a buffer of 100 feet.
71% of municipalities have no regulations restricting or preventing the application of fertilizer along wetlands.
PREP recommends setbacks of 100 feet, where possible, for wetlands to support water quality (Buffer Options for the Bay).
Stormwater Management & Erosion Control
52% of municipalities have a minimum area of land disturbance that “triggers” the application of the municipality's stormwater management regulations equal to or less than 20,000 sq. ft.
*Madbury: Aquifer protection zone 2,500 square feet; within 100 feet of a waterbody trigger is 25,000 square feet; all other development the trigger is 40,000 square feet/New Durham: trigger dependent on slope/Sanford: All development subject to some stormwater management regulations
PREP recommends municipalities adopt "trigger" thresholds of 20,000 square feet or less for the application of stormwater management regulations. Lower thresholds better support water quality and capture more development that is subject to stormwater management regulations.
9 out of 52 municipalities have impervious cover greater than or equal to 10%.
As little as 10% impervious cover in a watershed can result in water quality degradation (Center for Watershed Protection).
Climate Adaptation & Resilience
Actions for Watershed
The 2020 assessment highlighted the need for more protections for water quality, natural resources, and climate resiliency across the watershed. Explore "Action for the Watershed" to learn more about the critical actions our municipalities can take.
PREP is committed to assisting our municipalities increase protections for water quality. PREP is requesting proposals for the 2021 PREPA Grant Program from municipalities and partnering organizations within the Piscataqua Region watershed for projects resulting in achievement or significant progress toward achievement of one or more of the proposed actions for municipalities. For recommendations specific to a municipality, scroll to the top of this page and select the blue button "Choose Municipality."
Increase naturally vegetated buffers adjacent to all streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and wetlands to a minimum of 100 feet from the watersource.
Key Resource: Buffer Options for the Bay
Increase setback requirements for septic systems and primary structures to at least 100 feet from all streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and wetlands.
Key Resources: Buffer Options for the Bay
Adopt regulations preventing the application of fertilizers within 100 feet of all streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and wetlands.
Key Resource: Buffer Options for the Bay
Adopt model stormwater management regulations to control and reduce non-point source pollution from future development and existing development through redevelopment guidelines.
Key Resource: Southeast Watershed Alliance
Adopt model floodplain management standards to improve resiliency to future flooding.
Key Resources: NH Office of Strategic Initiatives model floodplain management standards, Menu of Higher Floodplain Regulation Standards for New Hampshire Communities (November 2018); Maine Floodplain Management Program model floodplain management standards
Conduct a climate vulnerability assessment to prepare for community impacts resulting from more frequent storm events, increasing precipitation, rising sea levels, and relative sea-level rise induced groundwater rise.
Key Resources: NH Coastal Adaptation Workgroup
Apply science summarized in the NH Coastal Flood Risk Summary Part 1: Science by incorporating the step-by-step process laid out in the NH Coastal Flood Risk Summary Part 2: Guidance for Using Scientific Projections into local land use regulations.
Key Resources: NH Coastal Adaptation Workgroup
New Hampshire Coastal Flood Risk Summary – Part I: Science
New Hampshire Coastal Flood Risk Summary, Part II: Guidance for Using Scientific Projections
Continue land conservation efforts by working with landowners and local land trusts interested in voluntary land conservation. Many community in the watershed complete an Open Space Plan and/or Natural Resource Inventory or Assessment that identifies town-specific conservation priorities.
Key Resources: The Land Conservation Plan for New Hampshire's Coastal Watershed, Land Conservation Priorities for the Protection of Coastal Water Resources: A Supplement to The Land Conservation Plan for New Hampshire's Coastal Watersheds, The Land Conservation Plan for Maine's Piscataqua Region Watersheds.