What We Do

Our estuaries are such dynamic systems whose health so greatly benefits from the efforts of partnered organizations and agencies monitoring, protecting, and restoring our estuarine habitats. To give you a preview of the latest habitat data and trends, and to help highlight some of the projects of PREP and its partners, we are proud to share our Habitat Spotlight report.

Issue #1 - 2020

Issue #2 - 2022

The Nature Conservancy is developing a spatially explicit plan for oyster restoration opportunities in the Great Bay Estuary. With PREP's assistance, Oyster Restoration by Design includes a broad public process to incorporate existing technical knowledge, as well as to elicit and integrate additional stakeholder interests and feedback. Learn more here. 

View the related condition indicators in the 2023 State of Our Estuaries report:

• Oysters
• Oyster Restoration

Salt marshes are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. In the past few centuries, many of the salt marshes in the Piscataqua Region watershed have been

degraded or lost over time.

PREP supports the ongoing efforts to improve these critical habitats through salt marsh restoration and tidal crossing enhancement projects.

View the Salt Marsh condition indicator in the 2023 State of Our Estuaries report.

Eelgrass grows in meadows on the floor of the estuary and provides a critical habitat for young fish, lobsters, and mussels, as well as other important ecosystem benefits. Historic data suggests that eelgrass meadows in the Piscataqua Region watershed have been thinning or lost over time.

In collaboration with several partners, PREP is participating to develop a restoration and management plan for eelgrass in the Great Bay Estuary.

View the Eelgrass condition indicator in the 2023 State of Our Estuaries report.

Conserving land provides a multitude of ecological and social benefits, including flood protection and recreational opportunities, and is one of the most effective ways to protect wildlife and water quality.

PREP supports land conservation through significant sub-awards for targeted land conservation efforts in alignment with the Conservation Plans for New Hampshire and Maine’s Coastal Watersheds. These efforts are focused on protecting lands identified as Conservation Focus Areas, as indicated in the State of Our Estuaries report.

View the related response indicators in the 2023 State of Our Estuaries report:

• Conserved Lands (Focus)
• Conserved Lands (General)